§ 65.18. Standards of construction.
(a) General. The construction of the water plant of the utility shall conform to standard acceptable engineering practices. It shall be operated so as to provide reasonably adequate and safe service to its customers and shall conform with the requirements of the Department of Environmental Resources which concern sanitation and potability of water.
(b) Disinfection of facilities. New mains, pumps, tanks, wells and other facilities for handling potable water and, insofar as practicable, repaired mains and other facilities, shall be thoroughly disinfected before being connected to the system. The method of disinfection shall be as approved by the Department of Environmental Resources.
(c) Mains. Mains shall include the following:
(1) Depth of mains. Water mains shall be installed below the frost line whenever possible. Minimum cover shall be at least three feet whenever possible.
(2) Dead ends. Insofar as practicable, the utility shall design its distribution system so as to avoid dead ends in its mains. When dead ends are necessary, the utility shall provide a means for flushing the mains when the normal consumption does not provide adequate circulation of the water. Mains with dead ends shall be flushed as often as necessary to maintain the proper quality of water.
(3) Segmentation of system. Valves shall be provided in distribution mains designed and used primarily as transmission lines at intervals not to exceed 4,000 feet. Valves shall be provided in other distribution mains at reasonable intervals so that repairs may be effected by the utility with interruptions to the service of a minimum number of customers. When feasible, valves shall be provided in these other mains at intervals not to exceed one continuous block or 500 feet, whichever is greater, except where a dead end run is not intended to serve any intervening customers.
(4) 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 customers can be kept to a minimum in number.
(5) Main sizing. As new mains are installed or as mains which have reached the end of their useful lives are replaced, the new or replacement main shall be sized and designed to accommodate the standards contained in this chapter, particularly in regard to § § 65.6 and 65.17 (relating to pressures; and standards of design) and this section.
(d) Company’s service lines. Company’s service lines shall include the following:
(1) Whenever feasible, all service pipes shall be installed below the frost line to prevent freezing, and the pipe shall be installed at a depth adequate to protect the pipe from surface activity.
(2) Service connections should not be connected to hydrant branch lines, and they should not cross intervening properties unless there is no other way in which service can be provided and appropriate easements are obtained.
Authority The provisions of this § 65.18 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 § 65.18 adopted August 15, 1980, August 16, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3356; amended April 8, 1983, effective April 9, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 1257. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (52652) and (52653).
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