UNSCHEDULED WATER SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS AND ASSOCIATED ACTIONS
§ 69.1601. General.
(a) The purpose of this statement of policy is to provide guidance to the water industry relating to unscheduled water service interruptions, particularly regarding the types of public notice and associated actions that will be deemed acceptable and appropriate for meeting the safe, reasonable and adequate standard in 66 Pa.C.S. § 1501 (relating to character of service and facilities) and for complying with the Commission’s regulation in § 56.71 (relating to interruption of service). It is imperative that affected ratepayers/occupants receive actual, timely and sufficient notice of unscheduled service interruptions whenever a situation affects water quality or quantity and particularly when the water is unsafe to drink.
(b) Affected ratepayers/occupants should be notified when 2,500 or 5%, whichever is less, of a utility’s total ratepayers/occupants have an unscheduled service interruption involving any reduction in the quantity of water in a single incident of 6 or more consecutive hours. Timely notification of fewer customers, however, is recommended when practicable. When there is an unscheduled service interruption involving the quality of water, water utilities should follow the applicable Department of Environmental Protection regulations regarding the public notification requirements for events requiring Tier 1 notification under 25 Pa. Code § 109.408(b) (relating to Tier 1 public notice—form, manner and frequency of notice), or Tier 2 notification under 25 Pa. Code § 109.409(b). Timely notification of customers in other incidents affecting the quantity or quality of water, such as water in short supply, discolored or sediment-laden, however, is recommended when practicable. It is also recommended that utilities set as a goal the Tier 1 time frame of ‘‘as soon as possible’’ rather than ‘‘no later than 24 hours’’ and the Tier 2 time frame of ‘‘as soon as possible’’ rather than ‘‘but no later than 30 days.’’
(c) This statement of policy should not be considered to modify or replace in any way the public notice requirements of the Department of Environmental Protection found in 25 Pa. Code § § 109.407—109.416 (relating to public notification).
Source The provisions of this § 69.1601 adopted December 15, 2006, effective December 16, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7624.
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