Services
Members are responsible for the costs of maintaining their own properties and for the costs of any utilities serving them.
Our Standing Rules are appended to our By-Laws, and they provide more information about other Member responsibilities. To read them, click on By-Laws and Standing Rules to the left and page down to the Standing Rules attachment.
Property for the Common Use of our Members: The Association owns and maintains roadways, docks, beachfront, beaches, and a small common area near the border of Watchaug Pond. The Grounds Committee and the Dock Committee are always grateful for the assistance of Members to help keep our common areas safe and attractive. To assist them in their work, contact any member of either committee. See the list of their members in Committees at left.
The Grounds Committee has prepared this handbook about its seasonal maintenance activities.
Rental of Properties within the Association: Our Standing Rules provide that “a Member may rent a residential building on his or her Lot for not more than two (2) weeks during a calendar year.”
Roads: The Sonquipaug Association owns and maintains its roadway system, including Sonquipaug Road, Ellen Drive, Jacqueline Lane, Michelle Lane, Ricks Road, Susan Circle, and our service roads. The Association contracts with local businesses for snow removal and maintenance on these roadways.
Water: The Association owns and maintains a community well, pump, and piping system, which serves many of the properties. The Association’s jurisdiction over the piping system ends at the border of each Member’s property. For more information, click on Water System at left.
Some properties have their own wells. Members with their own wells are responsible for their maintenance.
In the event of a water system problem, please contact a member of the Water Committee or a member of the Board. See this list for information.
Sanitary Facilities: The Association is not served by a sewage system. Each Member is responsible for maintenance of the sanitary facilities serving their home.
The Association strongly recommends regular pumping of septic systems and other home sanitary facilities. The Town of Charlestown requires regular inspections of these sanitary facilities to ensure their proper operation and the safety of the groundwater. For information about the town’s wastewater management program and regulations, click here.
Electricity: The principal supplier of electricity to the Association’s properties is Rhode Island Energy, a brand of PPL Corporation, which acquired the Rhode Island facilities of National Grid in June 2022. Other independent companies also provide electrical services.
Natural Gas: The Association is not served by a natural gas pipeline system. Many of the Members of the Association use propane for some of their household needs. There are many local propane suppliers, and each Member is responsible for contracting with the one best suited to their needs.
Cable, Telephone, and Web Services: Cox and Verizon Wireless provide these services by wire or fiber-optic cable to the Association. Unwired services such as DishNet and DirectTV also serve the area.
Recycling and Trash Removal: Each Member is responsible for the recycling and disposal of their own trash, and several local companies serve the Association with waste pickup and disposal services.
The Town of Charlestown maintains a large-waste dump, known as the Charlestown Residential Collection Center (CRCC), for the exclusive use of town residents. To use the CRCC, a resident is required to show a permit or pass, and to display an ID sticker on the window of the transporting vehicle. For more information on the CRCC, click here.
Postal Service and Deliveries: The United States Postal Service delivers letter and small-package mail to Association members via a row of postal boxes along Sonquipaug Road, and it delivers large items directly to each address. Some Members have opted for their own roadside postal boxes. UPS, Fedex, Amazon, and other delivery services also serve the Association.