§ 65.17. Standards of design.
(a) General. The design of the water plant of the utility shall conform to standard acceptable engineering practices. It shall be designed so as to provide reasonably adequate and safe service to its customers and shall conform to the requirements of the Department of Environmental Resources which concern sanitation and potability of water.
(b) Distribution system. The distribution system shall be of adequate size and so designed in conjunction with related facilities as to maintain the minimum pressures required by § 65.6 (relating to pressures). Pipe of a diameter of less than 6 inches shall not be used for distribution mains except in cul-de-sacs where the mains are not subject to being extended and are not more than 250 feet in length.
(c) Transmission systems. In combination with related storage facilities, transmission pipelines from sources of supply shall be designed to deliver to the limits of the capacity of those sources of supply the minimum foreseeable requirements, as determined pursuant to good engineering practices, of that portion of the system which is dependent upon such transmission pipelines.
(d) Company’s service lines. The size, design, material and installation of the service pipe shall conform to the reasonable requirements of the utility; provided, however, that the minimum size of the pipe shall not be less than 3/4 inch.
(e) Water supply requirements. The quantity of water delivered to the distribution system from total source facilities should be sufficient to supply adequately, dependably and safely the total requirements of all customers under maximum consumption and should be determined so as to maintain the specified pressures as required by § 65.6.
(f) Materials and specifications. Materials and specifications shall include the following:
(1) Qualifications. Metallic and nonmetallic materials may be used separately and in combination to construct component parts of a water system including, but not limited to, conduits, pipes, couplings, caulking materials, protective linings and coatings, services, valves, hydrants, pumps, tanks and reservoirs; provided:
(i) The material shall have a reasonable useful service life.
(ii) The material shall be capable of withstanding with ample safety factors the internal and external forces to which it may be subjected in service.
(iii) The material may not cause the water to become impure, unwholesome, unpotable or unhealthful.
(iv) Materials and equipment shall be so selected as to minimize corrosion, electrolysis and deterioration.
(2) Newly developed materials and equipment. It is not the intention of this subsection to prevent the use of newly developed materials and equipment that otherwise meet the requirements of paragraph (1).
(3) Minimum requirements for steel pipeline. The requirements as set forth in paragraphs (1)(i)—(iii) are intended to be general in nature in order to permit full discretion in the selection of proper materials and equipment; however, steel pipe used in transmission and distribution systems shall be lined inside and coated outside or lined inside and coated and wrapped outside to conform with the applicable minimum specifications of the American Water Works Association or equivalent standards, except that those portions laid above ground may be protected on the outside after cleaning by painting only.
Authority The provisions of this § 65.17 issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 317, 501, 1301, 1304, 1501, 1502, 1504, 1507, 1508, 1702 and 1704.
Source The provisions of this § 65.17 adopted March 25, 1946; amended August 15, 1980, effective August 16, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3356. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26258).
Notes of Decisions Costs for Extension Main
In a situation where application of a water company’s regulations regarding allocation of costs for an extension main would subject a homeowner to unreasonable prejudice and disadvantage, a water company may be required by the Public Utility Commission to disregard their own regulations and share the cost with the homeowner. Keystone Water Co. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 515 A.2d 367 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1986).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 65.18 (relating to standards of construction).
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