H. B. 2709
(By Delegates Varner, Caputo, Fragale, Manchin,
Hartman, Yost, Martin, Perry, Wysong, Shaver and Eldridge)
[Introduced
January 30, 2007
; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §8-19-21 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to
municipal and county waterworks
systems and specifications for water mains generally; and
requiring the installation of fire hydrants at intervals of
not more than every two thousand feet on all water mains
installed or upgraded on platted roadways or highways after
the first day of July, two thousand seven.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §8-19-21 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 19. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WATERWORKS AND ELECTRIC POWER
SYSTEMS.
§8-19-21. Specifications for water mains and water service pipes.
Considering the importance of public fire protection, any
state or local government, public service district, public or
private utility which installs, constructs, maintains or upgrades
water mains, shall ensure that all new mains specifically intended
to provide fire protection are supplied by mains which are not less than six inches in diameter. Effective the first day of July, two
thousand seven, when any state or local government, public service
district, public or private utility installs, constructs or
upgrades water mains along a platted roadway or a public highway,
the utility shall install fire hydrants at intervals of not more
than two thousand feet on any new or upgraded water mains that are
not less than six inches in diameter. A permit or other written
approval shall be obtained from the Department of Health and Human
Resources for each hydrant or group of hydrants installed in
compliance with section nine, article one, chapter sixteen of the
West Virginia code as amended: Provided, That all newly
constructed water distribution systems transferred to a public or
private utility shall have mains at least six inches in diameter
where fire flows are desired or required by the public or private
utility: Provided, however, That the utility providing service has
sufficient hydraulic capacity as determined by the Department of
Health and Human Resources.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the installation
of fire hydrants at intervals of not more than every two thousand
feet on all new installations of water mains installed or upgraded
on platted roadways or highways after the first day of July, two
thousand seven.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.