§ 69.1503. Fire protection service afforded by current system design.
(a) A water public utility’s operating procedures and best practices related to fire protection service should be maintained within this Commonwealth at an office or offices of the water public utility located in the territory served by it and should be open for examination by the Commission.
(b) A water public utility’s operating procedures and best practices related to fire protection service should include all of the following:
(1) A determination, based on a definable methodology or standard, or both, of operating characteristics such as minimum flow, pressure and duration of flow and pressure that the water public utility will consider its minimum operating characteristics by which it will provide fire protection service. These predetermined minimum operating characteristics should be applied to all fire protection connections.
(2) A fire hydrant testing and maintenance program to ensure that all fire hydrants owned or operated by a water public utility within a discrete system are tested and exercised on a specified schedule as determined operationally and economically feasible by the water public utility. A water public utility may encourage customers with private fire hydrants to test and exercise their private fire hydrants.
(3) A method to clearly mark and identify each fire protection connection found not to be providing service at the water public utility’s minimum operating characteristics for fire protection connections.
(4) An estimated schedule to remove, remediate or replace a fire protection connection found not to be providing service at the water public utility’s minimum operating characteristics for fire protection service. Where the water public utility determines a fire hydrant does not provide service at the minimum operating characteristics for fire protection service and may serve a useful purpose as a flushing hydrant, the water public utility can mark the fire hydrant as such, either permanently or until the hydrant can be removed, remediated or replaced.
(5) A written notification process to affected customers and local jurisdictions that may include property owners, the municipality and the local fire department of the location of any fire protection connection found not to be providing service at the water public utility’s minimum operating characteristics.
(c) In conjunction with its obligations under § 65.4 (relating to records), a water public utility that provides fire protection service should update its maps, plans and records to include the location of and, if feasible, the last known operating characteristics of all fire protection connections.
(d) In conjunction with its obligations under 66 Pa.C.S. § 505 (relating to duty to furnish information to commission; cooperation in valuing property) a water public utility should, as part of an acquisition due diligence process, analyze and estimate the level of capital expenditures and associated time frames for a water public utility to remediate, repair, or both, a water system required to bring the fire protection service up to at least the water public utility’s minimum operating characteristics.
Authority The provisions of this § 69.1503 added under 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 505, 506 and 512.
Source The provisions of this § 69.1503 added March 29, 2024, effective March 30, 2024, 54 Pa.B. 1675.
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 69.1502 (relating to definitions).
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