§ 55-2. - Water distribution line; construction permit exemption.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this division is to qualify for exemptions from the Department of Environmental Quality construction permit requirement for water systems, pursuant to Chapter 625 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code, entitled, "Public Water Supply Construction Standards," adopted by the Board of Environmental Quality on May 26, 1994. Water distribution lines not larger than 12 inches in diameter are the only mains eligible for the exemption from the requirements of issuance of State construction permits. All water distribution lines/systems constructed in whole or in part with funds from the United States EPA and/or with funds administered by the DEQ shall not be exempted from the requirement of obtaining a State construction permit.
(b) System and connection requirement. The water municipal systems and any water distribution line or connection thereto must be constructed in compliance with the applicable regulations, rules and requirements of the DEQ or the ordinances, regulations, rules and requirements of the City, whichever standard is more stringent.
(c) Approval required. All water distribution lines to be connected to municipal water system must be approved by the Director prior to actual construction.
(d) Approval withheld. Approval shall be withheld if the water treatment plan, pump station or distribution main to which the water distribution line is to attach has reached or, with the addition of the proposed water distribution line would reach treatment or hydraulic capacities. Further, approval shall also be withheld if the water distribution line does not meet or exceed the standards of the DEQ and the City, or may be withheld for any other reason.
(e) Review and approval of plans and specifications for connection to systems. Prior to construction, plans and specifications for water distribution line must be reviewed, approved and signed by a professional engineer licensed by the State of Oklahoma and designated by the Director as being in responsible charge of such connections to the municipal water systems. All approved plans and specifications must be signed by said designated professional engineer, in responsible charge, indicating approval to proceed with construction in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. No water distribution line construction shall proceed until plans and specifications have been reviewed and approved in this manner.
(f) Listing of projects. The Director must supply DEQ with one copy of all such approved plans and specifications together with a listing of all approved water distribution line projects monthly, on or before the fifteenth of each month following approval by the plans and specification for each project. The listing shall include the name, location and date of approval of each such project.
(g) Inspection. The City Engineer shall inspect each approved project and shall prohibit commencement of any water distribution line, construction or connection prior to approval of plans and specifications in accordance with this division.
(h) System operation. The City shall operate its municipal water system in compliance with the applicable rules of DEQ.
(i) System capacity exception. Should the City declare a moratorium on water distribution line construction or should any proposed water distribution line bring the water municipal system a connected pump station, distribution main or water treatment plan to its design capacity, the construction or connection of the proposed water distribution line may still be allowed, to the extent approved by DEQ, under the following circumstances:
(1) the City must apply, in writing, to the DEQ for a variance allowing the specified construction to proceed within the area.
(2) the application must detail what the City will do to ensure that the construction or connection will not worsen the existing problem as the case may be.
(3) the application must include timetables for correcting any stated problems, prior to the connection of any additional users, demands or flows, as a result of the construction for which approval is sought.
(4) the application, if approved, will become a condition of any permit issued for such construction by the DEQ.
(5) approval of construction in an area under moratorium or at design capacity, which has not received such a variance from the DEQ, may result in revocation of the City's overall water permit exemption status, as provided by the rules and regulations of DEQ.
(Ord. No. 20768, § 1, 2-18-97)
