Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 65 - Water Service Utilities › Subchapter 3 - Plant, Equipment, and Facilities › Section 165:65-3-1 - Construction and maintenance of plant, equipment, and facilities

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Water
				plant and system construction and maintenance.
Each utility shall
				construct and maintain its entire water plant and system in such condition as
				will enable it to furnish safe, adequate and reliable service subject only to
				emergency conditions beyond its control.
(b)
Construction, installation, and
				maintenance of systems.
Transmission and distribution systems, including
				transmission mains and pipe lines, distribution mains, pumps, valves, storage
				tanks, meters, equipment, etc., shall be constructed, installed, and maintained
				in accordance with all applicable rules and orders of the Commission and DEQ.
				Utilities must be able to locate water lines consistent with the requirements
				of 63 O.S. §§ 142.1
et seq.
(c)
Statement regarding plant,
				equipment, and facilities.
Each utility shall submit to the Commission
				annually a statement regarding its plant, equipment, and facilities in such
				form as the Commission may require. Utilities other than those that purchase
				water shall provide appropriate authority for their use of water (U.S. Corps of
				Engineers, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and/or other appropriate authority).
				All water service utilities that withdraw groundwater or divert stream water
				must hold a water right from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board before placing
				water to use.
(d)
Plans,
				surveys, and permits.
Each utility shall submit to the Commission a
				certified copy of all plans and surveys of its waterworks which have been filed
				with the DEQ. A description of the source from which the water supply is
				derived shall be filed with the Commission, and no new or different source of
				supply shall be used until a certified copy of the certificate of the DEQ
				approving the use of the new or different supply has been filed with the
				Commission. No utility shall sell water or extend water service to a consumer
				until certified copies of all permits required to be issued by the DEQ to the
				utility are filed with the Commission.
(e)
Depth of mains.
Water mains,
				except mains used exclusively for temporary or seasonal service, shall be
				installed below the normal frost line or otherwise protected to prevent
				freezing in accordance with DEQ.
(f)
Dead ends.
Insofar as
				practicable the utility shall design its distribution system so as to avoid
				dead ends on its mains. Where dead ends exist, under circumstances that
				adequate water circulation does not exist, the utility shall provide hydrants
				or valves for the purpose of flushing the mains. Mains without adequate
				circulation shall be flushed every ninety (90) calendar days, or more often if
				necessary, to maintain the proper quality of the water. Records shall be kept
				of the date, place and duration of flushing mains; and such records shall be
				used as a guide to determine the necessary frequency of flushing of the same
				mains thereafter.
(g)
Segmentation of systems.
The design of water mains or systems
				hereafter constructed shall contain valves at intervals throughout the system
				to facilitate repairs and minimize interruptions of service to consumers.
(h)
Grid systems.
Whenever feasible, the distribution system shall be laid out in a properly
				segmented grid so that in case of breaks or repairs the interruption of service
				to the consumers can be kept at a minimum.
(i)
Fire protection service.
Specifications, location, installation, and the responsibility for the
				maintenance of fire hydrants, public and private fire protection facilities and
				connecting mains, and the ownership of such facilities shall be subject to
				negotiation between the utility and the municipality served. Fire hydrants and
				public and private fire protection facilities shall conform to the requirements
				of the city where installed or in the absence of city requirements, to the
				rules and orders of the Commission.
(j)
Valves.
Each utility shall
				inspect the principal mainline valves on its distribution system at least once
				every two (2) years. A record of each valve shall be kept showing the size,
				type, location, date of inspection and the results thereof.
(k) If PUD informs the utility of any safety
				issues concerning the utility's plant, equipment, or facilities by identifying
				the relevant Commission rule, or other applicable Federal or State laws
				implicated by the safety issue, the utility shall electronically provide
				photographic evidence to PUD showing completion of work and that the issue has
				been resolved. If the utility has the necessary equipment it shall provide such
				evidence via electronic photographs or such other method that will reasonably
				show the issue has been resolved.
Amended at 16 Ok Reg
				  2380, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2322, eff
				  7-15-03