Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 30 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION › Sub-Agency 000 - GENERAL › Chapter 030 - WATER UTILITY REGULATIONS GENERAL ORDER NO. 29 › Section 30 000 030 - WATER UTILITY REGULATIONS GENERAL ORDER NO. 29

Current through June, 2024
INTRODUCTION
There are three agencies of Vermont State Government
				involved with water systems in Vermont. Each agency has a set of
				rules and regulations governing water systems, and any person,
				corporation or association planning to build, modify, finance, or
				operate a water utility in Vermont must be familiar with each
				agency's regulations.
The Vermont State Health Department has water quality
				responsibilities for all public water supply systems serving 10 users
				or more, pursuant to Title 18 V.S.A. 1203. Its regulations cover
				bacteriological, chemical, physical and radiological quality. Health
				Department regulations also cover test and operation, registration
				and certification of water plant operators. A copy of these
				regulations is available from the Department of Health, 115
				Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont. A permit to operate a water
				system must be obtained from the Department of Health prior to
				operation.
The Department of Water Resources of the Agency of
				Environmental Conservation is the responsible agency concerned with
				the quality of all waters of the State, including water systems not
				under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Board or the Department
				of Health, pursuant to Title 3 V.S.A. 2801, 2873. Its regulations
				include all lakes, rivers and streams and municipal water systems. A
				copy of the Water Conservation Policy of the Department of Water
				Resources can be obtained from the Department of Water
				Resources.
The Department of Public Service has jurisdiction
				over private water utilities serving one or more customers, pursuant
				to Title 30 V.S.A. 203(3). This Order pertains to water utilities
				serving 10 users or more. A Certificate of Public Good must be
				obtained from the Public Service Board before a private water system
				can be operated. This Order supersedes Public Service Board General
				Order No. 29 dated September 30, 1947.
Section 1 Application of
			 Regulations
These rules are established to promote continuous,
				safe and adequate service to the public, to provide standards for
				uniform and reasonable practices and to establish a basis for
				determining the responsibility of both the public and the utility.
				These Water System Regulations shall in no way relieve the utility
				from the general laws governing utility regulation in Vermont.
Section 2 Suspension of
			 Regulations
Upon its own motion, or upon application, and for
				good cause, the Public Service Board may modify, suspend or repeal
				the provisions of any regulation herein, pursuant to the Vermont
				Administrative Procedures Act (
				3 V.S.A.
				801 et. seq.) and the General
				Orders of this Board.
Section
			 3 Definitions
For the purpose of this General
				Order:
(a) The word "Board"
			 shall mean the Public Service Board.
(b) The words "public utility",
			 "water utility" or "utility" shall mean any person, partnership or
			 corporation engaged in the collecting, sale and distribution of water
			 for domestic, industrial or fire protection purposes. Municipal water
			 systems are the responsibility of the Department of Health and the
			 Department of Water Resources and not subject to these regulations.
			 Vermont water utilities serving 10 customers or more are classified
			 as Class D water utilities according to standards adopted by the
			 National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
			 (NARUC).
(c) The word
			 "customer" shall mean any person, partnership, association,
			 corporation or agency of the Federal, State or local government being
			 supplied with water by a water utility for domestic, industrial,
			 business or fire protection purposes.
(d) The term "water service" shall
			 mean the furnishing of water to customer by a utility.
(e) The word "meter" shall mean any
			 device used for the purpose of measuring the quantity of water
			 delivered by a utility to a customer.
(f) The word "main" shall mean a
			 water pipe owned or maintained by a utility which is used for the
			 purpose of transmission or distribution of water, not including the
			 service pipe.
(g) The
			 words "service pipe" shall mean the connection between the main and
			 the customer's property and shall include all the pipe fittings and
			 valves to make the connection.
(h) The words "curb stop" shall
			 mean the connection between the main and the customer's service
			 pipe.
(i) The words
			 "service connection" shall mean the point of connection of the
			 customer's property with the service pipe.
(j) The words "water plant" shall
			 mean any facilities owned by a water utility for the pumping,
			 purification, storage, transmission and distribution of
			 water.