Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) All improvements or additions to any
system of a waterworks company and/or sewage disposal system company involving
construction which would alter the capacity of such system, by one per cent or
more of that system's design capacity, shall be indicated in writing by the
company to the director of the commission's service monitoring and enforcement
department prior
to construction. The director of the service monitoring and enforcement
department will
determine whether the associated construction plans, and specifications, also
need to be submitted. All facilities and equipment shall be identified either
on the plan or engineering drawings, or written in detail in an attached
report. If applicable, the
OEPA approval letter
indicating acceptance of the plans, specifications, and engineering drawings
shall be submitted by the company to the director of the service monitoring and
enforcement department prior to construction. The items required to be submitted
pursuant to this paragraph
may be provided either in hard copy or
electronically via the internet in a manner prescribed by the director of the
service monitoring and enforcement department .
(B)
Maintenance of plant and equipment:
(1) Each
waterworks company and/or sewage disposal system company shall have and follow
a system-specific maintenance plan and schedule to include, but not be limited
to, source-of-supply, treatment, distribution, and storage facilities.
Commission staff
may review the plan and schedule at the closest
related facility.
(2) Each
waterworks company and/or sewage disposal system company shall make repairs
consistent with industry-accepted utility engineering standards and using
industry accepted materials. Individuals performing work must have the
necessary training and qualifications, and have any required certifications for
the specific work being performed.
(3) Each waterworks company shall avoid dead
ends in the distribution mains so far as possible. If such dead ends exist, the
waterworks company shall provide facilities for flushing. Flushing facilities
shall be sized to provide at least a flow velocity of 2.5 feet per
second.
(4) Each waterworks company
shall flush each of its mains at least annually, or in the case of dead-end
mains, at least twice annually.
(5)
Each waterworks company shall establish a valve and hydrant inspection program
which includes operating valves and hydrants through their
full cycle. Plant and pumping station valves and valves on transmission mains
or at critical locations on distribution mains shall be kept in good operating
condition and shall be inspected at least annually. Valves on local
distribution system mains shall be inspected every two years. Valves and
hydrants found to be inoperable shall be repaired or replaced. Valve covers
shall be maintained at or above grade level and not paved over. The company
shall maintain records of the date and type of each inspection and all
maintenance. These records shall be available for review by the commission
staff at the company's plant(s).
(6) Each waterworks company's storage tank(s)
shall be inspected by a person or firm qualified to inspect storage tanks at
least every five years.
Commission staff may review
these records at the company's plant(s).
(7) Each sewage disposal system company shall
annually inspect each of its manholes. Manholes and sewer lines shall be kept
in good operating condition. Manhole covers shall be maintained at or above
grade level and not paved over. The company shall maintain inspection records
to include, but not be limited to, the date, location, inspector, and condition
of each manhole, and all maintenance performed on the manholes and collection
system.
Commission staff
may review these records at the closest related
facility.
(C)
Notification for planned outages and flushings
(1) Each waterworks company and/or sewage
disposal system company shall notify, either in hard copy or electronically via
the internet, the commission's director of the service monitoring and
enforcement department and the Ohio consumers' counsel at least two days in advance
of all:
(a) Planned outages affecting one
hundred customers or ten per cent of the system's customers whichever number is
smaller and expected to last over four hours;
(b) Major operational events; or
(c) Planned/routine annual/semi-annual main
flushings.
(2) Each
waterworks company and/or sewage disposal system company shall notify affected
customers at least three days in advance of any planned outages or planned main
flushings. The notice shall be given to the customer(s), delivered in writing,
or by notice printed in a newspaper of general circulation serving the
community or by an obvious sign posting in the company's affected service
territory. Two days advance notice shall be permitted if delivered
electronically to the commission's staff and the Ohio consumers' counsel and
delivered telephonically to customers. The notice shall state the date and
estimated duration of the outage or flushing for affected area(s) and a local
or toll-free telephone number that customers may call with questions. If a
waterworks company and/or sewage disposal system company has a web site, then
it must post on its web site any planned outage by the date of the
outage.
