Village of Denmark, WI Article IV Private Water Distribution System Inspection, Maintenance and Operation

[Adopted 10-7-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-03]

§ 296-27 General.

A. The owner of a private water distribution system shall be responsible for ensuring that the private water distribution system is inspected, maintained and operated to provide an adequate quantity of safe drinking water to consumers served by the private water distribution system and for firefighting purposes.

B. The owner of a private water distribution system shall:

(1) Inspect, maintain and operate the private water distribution system in accordance with this article.

(2) Maintain or contract for an adequate number of trained staff persons to perform all duties necessary to maintain the private water distribution system in good operating condition.

(3) Maintain, repair and replace equipment when necessary to keep the private water distribution system in good operating condition.

(4) Ensure adequate financial resources are available for proper inspection, maintenance, repair, replacement and operation of the private water distribution system.

§ 296-28 Applicability.

Water distribution systems on private property shall comply with the requirements of this article if they have any of the following:

A. One or more valves or fire hydrants.

B. Water service to a building or a curb stop from a water main.

C. Service to more than one building.

D. One hundred fifty feet or more of water main and/or service piping measured from the right-of-way.

§ 296-29 Certified operator requirements.

A. Every private water distribution system shall have a designated operator in charge to be in direct responsible charge of the private water distribution system.

B. No person may be an operator in charge of a private water distribution system unless that person holds a valid certificate for the applicable subclass issued pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 114.

C. The owner of a private water distribution system shall:

(1) Designate to the Village Water Utility in writing the operator in charge of the private water distribution system. The designated operator in charge shall meet the requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 114.30 to 114.32.

(2) Provide to the Village Water Utility a copy of the designated operator in charge's current certificate issued pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 114.35.

(3) Provide to the Village Water Utility twenty-four-hour per day, seven-day per week, contact information for the designated operator in charge.

(4) Notify the Village Water Utility within three days after the owner employs a new operator in charge. The new operator in charge's name, contact information, and certification number shall be sent to the Village Water Utility within three days after being hired.

D. Only the operator in charge or person supervised by the operator in charge may operate the private water distribution system.

E. The operator in charge shall coordinate all private water distribution system operations with the Village Water Utility, providing two working days' notice before operating any fire hydrant or valve.

F. No person may use or take water from a fire hydrant connected to a private water distribution system except for the purpose of maintaining the private water distribution system or extinguishing a fire.

G. No person, except the operator in charge or person supervised by the operator in charge, a member of the Village Fire Department, or an employee of the Village Water Utility may open, operate or use water from afire hydrant connected to a private water distribution system for any purpose.

H. No person, except the operator in charge or person supervised by the operator in charge, a member of the Village Fire Department, or an employee of the Village Water Utility may turn on, turn off, operate or tamper with any valve constituting part of a private water distribution system for any purpose.

§ 296-30 Private water distribution system operating requirements.

A. A private water distribution system shall be operated so as to not restrict water pressure or flow at all locations within the private water distribution system under normal operating conditions.

B. A private water distribution system shall maintain current fire-flow studies and documentation showing the fire-flow capability of the system. The private water distribution system owner shall notify the Village Fire Chief in writing of the location of all fire hydrants that are temporarily out of service or cannot maintain 500 gpm at 20 psi at ground level.

§ 296-31 Private water distribution system maintenance.

A. A private water distribution system owner shall perform routine maintenance to ensure proper operation of the system. Recordkeeping shall be established to ensure proper scheduling.

B. Unless an alternate schedule is approved by the Village Water Utility, the owner of a private water distribution system shall perform all the following:

(1) Valve exercising. All distribution system valves shall be exercised, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, at least once every two years.

(2) Hydrant exercising. All hydrants shall be exercised, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, at least once every two years.

(3) Hydrant/valve maintenance, inspection and fire-flow testing. Hydrants and valves shall be maintained in proper working condition and inspected annually, consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations, American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, and Village Water Utility policies. Fire hydrants shall be fire-flow tested to demonstrate current flow rates, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, at least once every five years.

(4) Main flushing. Mains shall be flushed to remove sediment or water of poor quality, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, at least once every two years.

(5) Leakage detection. Mains, valves, hydrants and services shall be inspected for leaks according to the latest edition of AWWA M36 Water Audits and Loss Control Programs, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, at least once every year. Water systems that are master metered at the right-of-way are exempt from annual leak detection maintenance requirement.

(6) Hydrant sandblasting and painting. Hydrants shall be sandblasted, primed and painted red and color flow rings shall be placed on the hydrant to indicate the flow rate per NFPA standards, consistent with Village Water Utility policies, as needed.

(7) Leak repairs. Identified leaks shall be repaired promptly as follows:

(a) Significant surfacing leaks within eight hours.

(b) Surfacing leaks within eight hours to 24 hours.

(c) Minor (barely visible) surfacing leaks within 24 hours to 36 hours.

(d) Nonsurfacing detectable leaks within seven to 14 days.

(8) Additional maintenance. Perform all additional prudent water main and appurtenance maintenance, repairs and replacements per AWWA and NFPA best practices and consistent with Village Water Utility policies as necessary to keep the facilities in good operating condition.

C. Cost for services performed by Village. If the Village or Village contractor performs any work on a private water distribution system at the request of the owner or operator in charge, or performs any work on a private water distribution system to resolve an immediate safety issue, the Village may impose a special charge under Wis. Stats. § 66.0627 against the real property where the private water distribution system is located for services rendered by allocating all of the cost of the service to the property served. A special charge is not payable in installments. If a special charge is not paid within the time determined by the Village Board, the special charge is delinquent. A delinquent special charge shall become a lien on the property against which it is imposed as of the date of delinquency. The delinquent special charge shall be included in the current or next tax roll for collection and settlement under Ch. 74, Wis. Stats.

§ 296-32 Recordkeeping.

A private water distribution system owner shall provide to the Village Water Utility records and documentation of private water distribution system inspections, maintenance and operations as follows:

A. Provide annually documentation of a valid service contract that authorizes the performance of needed maintenance and emergency repair work should the need arise.

B. Provide annually and maintain detailed water system "as constructed" plans and a list of system component materials, parts and equipment.

C. Provide within 30 days of completion copies of all maintenance contracts, test records, reports and verification of payment documenting the completion of required system maintenance activities.

§ 296-33 Damage to private water system prohibited.

No person shall destroy, deface, damage, injure, tamper, impair or interfere with the operation of any part, pipe, fixture, appliance or property of a private water system located in the Village.

§ 296-34 Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code.