Ohio Administrative Code › Title 4901:1 - Utilities › Chapter 4901:1-15 - Waterworks Companies and Sewage Disposal System Companies › Section 4901:1-15-10 - Construction, maintenance of plant and equipment, and interruption notification for planned outages and flushings

Current through all regulations
			 passed and filed through July 1, 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.