Rule 4901:1-15-10 | Construction, maintenance of plant and equipment, and interruption notification for planned outages and flushings.
(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.
Last updated January 8, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Supplemental Information