H. B. 2322
(By Delegates Leach and Caputo)
[Introduced
February 19, 2001
; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section twenty-one, article nineteen,
chapter eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to municipal and
county waterworks systems; specifications for water mains; and
requiring the installation of fire hydrants at intervals of
not more than every one thousand feet in all upgrades of water
mains and all new installation of water mains.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section twenty-one, article nineteen, chapter eight of
the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, 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 and shall ensure that all new mains are
not less than six inches in diameter. There must be a fire hydrant
installed at intervals of not more than every one thousand feet.
The minimum flow on a fire hydrant must be five hundred gallons per
minute. 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 must have mains at
least six inches in diameter where fire flows are desired or
required by the public or private utility with a minimum flow from
the fire hydrants of five-hundred gallons per minute: Provided,
however, That the utility providing service has sufficient hydraulic capacity as determined by the department of health and
human resources to provide for the transfer of service.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the installation
of fire hydrants at intervals of not less than one thousand feet in
all upgrades of water mains and construction and installation of
new mains.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.