VII. Operation and Maintenance
1. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plans
A. Water Quality Procedures for Water Utilities
Each water utility shall have a set of O&M plans that includes sampling protocols used in water quality testing and describes the normal operating procedures of the Utility and its facilities.
B. Contents of O&M Plan for Water Utilities
The O&M Plan shall include, as applicable:
(1) The operations and maintenance schedule for each unit process for each treatment plant;
(2) The operations and maintenance schedule for each groundwater source and unit process;
(3) The operations and maintenance schedule for each purchased water connection;
(4) The schedule and procedure for flushing dead end mains and the distribution system, and the procedures for disposal of the flushed water, including dechlorination;
(5) The schedule for routine inspection of reservoirs, and the procedures for cleaning reservoirs;
(6) The schedule and procedures for inspecting, repairing, and replacing water mains;
(7) The plan for responding to emergencies as described in Section VII.3 of this General Order;
(8) The training protocols for use by employees for interacting with customers;
(9) The schedule and procedures for either testing backflow prevention assemblies or notifying customers of their obligation to test backflow prevention assemblies;
(10) The schedule and procedures for routine maintenance of water main valves, combination air vacuum release valves, fire hydrants, and valves;
(11) The schedule and program for maintenance and calibration of source flow meters;
(12) The qualifications and training of operating personnel including water treatment and cross connection certification; and
(13) The program for bio-film control in water mains.
C. Submission of Summary of O&M Plan for Water Utilities to the Commission
(1) Each water utility shall have on file a summary of its current O&M plan(s), electronically or in hard copy form, with the Division of Water and Audits, or its successor. The submission of these O&M plans shall be subject to the protections against unauthorized disclosure as provided by Public Utilities Code Section 583 and the corresponding exclusion from public inspection provided by General Order 66-C, Section 2.2.
(2) When these O&M plans change substantially and at least every five years, the water utility shall file updated summaries.
D. Submission of Department O&M Plans for Water Utilities to the Commission
Any water utility that has prepared an O&M Plan for the Department shall submit a copy of such O&M Plan to the Commission. The submission of an O&M Plan shall be subject to the protections against unauthorized disclosure as provided by Public Utilities Code Section 583 and the corresponding exclusion from public inspection provided by General Order 66-C, Section 2.2.
E. Submission of O&M Plans for Wastewater System Utilities to the Commission
Each wastewater utility shall submit to the Commission a copy of the O&M Plan required by the State Board General Order 0003-2006 (May 1, 2006, or its successor.) The submission of the O&M Plan shall be subject to the protections against unauthorized disclosure as provided by Public Utilities Code Section 583 and the corresponding exclusion from public inspection provided by General Order 66-C, Section 2.2.
F. Availability of O&M Plan for Commission Review
The latest O&M plans shall be available for Commission review. In its Annual Reports, each water utility shall identify the location(s) of or the method for accessing (e.g., the website) its O&M plan.
2. Asset Management Requirements
A. Due to the water and wastewater industries' long lived infrastructure and high fixed costs, the effective management of the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of assets is a critical component in delivering good customer service and ensuring the ongoing viability of services.
B. Effective asset management helps achieve or maintain service and other business performance requirements, manage risks, and improve efficiency. To support the asset management system requirements all utilities shall conduct regular reviews of their asset management system, employing either internal or external resources, as appropriate. Utilities shall report to the Commission on any major plans to retrofit existing facilities, use of cathodic protection programs, and other efforts to minimize deterioration and extend service life. The Commission may determine whether additional third-party review of a utility's asset management plan, as a recoverable cost, is warranted.
C. Wastewater systems shall maintain their sanitary sewer management plan according to the State Board General Order GO-0003, 2006, or its successor.
3. Emergency/Disaster Response Plan
A. Each water utility shall have an Emergency Response Plan pursuant to the Department's requirements, as set by the US EPA, Government Code Section 8607.2, or its successor.
B. Each wastewater system shall have an Emergency Response Plan pursuant to the State Board GO-0003, 2006, or its successor.
4. Records and Reports
See Appendix C for retention schedules.
A. System Plans, Maps, Drawings and Other Records
All water and wastewater system utilities shall have on file at their principal or local office plans, maps, drawings or other records of all system facilities. The plans, maps, drawings or other records shall be clear and legible. At a minimum these records will include:
(1) Location of all pumping stations, diversion works, water or sewer treatment plants, sources of supply, storage facilities, size, type of material and location of all mains (including recycled water mains) and ditches, including valves and sluice gates, gauges, interconnections with other systems and fire hydrants;
(2) Location, size and material of each service line;
(3) A schematic drawing or map of all pumping stations, water or wastewater treatment plants to show the size and location of all major equipment, pipelines, connections, valves and other equipment; and
(4) The date of construction of all plant.
(1) The water and wastewater system(s) plans, maps, drawings and other records shall be updated as significant changes occur, and maintained until replaced or superseded by updated plans or drawings.
(2) The most current plans, drawings, maps, and other records shall be available for Commission review.
C. Underground Damage Prevention
The utility shall comply with all California regulations on underground damage prevention.
5. Water Treatment and Water Distribution Operators
The utility shall ensure that all water treatment and water distribution facilities are operated by personnel appropriately certified by the Department. Water treatment and water distribution certification are governed by Articles 1 through 5 of Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 13, and Article 2 of Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15, or its successor.
B. Treatment Facility Operator Certification
All treatment facility operators shall be certified by the Department for the functions they perform.
C. Distribution System Operator Certification
All distribution system operators shall be certified by the Department for the functions they perform.
D. Cross-Connection Operator Certification
All cross-connection operators shall be certified by the California/Nevada AWWA, or equivalent organization.
E. Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Distribution Operators
All wastewater treatment and wastewater distribution operators shall be certified by the State Water Resources Control Board, Office of Operator Certification.
6. Pressures
Each potable water distribution system shall be operated in a manner to assure that the minimum operating pressure at each service connection throughout the distribution system is not less than 40 psi nor more than 125 psi, except that during periods near PHD the pressure may not be less than 30 psi and that during periods of hourly minimum demand the pressure may be not more than 150 psi. Subject to the minimum pressure requirements of 40 psi, variations in pressures under normal operation shall not exceed 50% of the average operating pressure.
The average operating pressure shall be determined by computing the arithmetical average of at least 24 consecutive hourly pressure readings.
Each new distribution system shall be designed to provide a minimum operating pressure at each service connection of not less than 40 psi during PHD. If a utility cannot meet this requirement as a result of cost and/or system limitation, the utility must request an exemption in accordance with Section I.8.A of this General Order.
C. Changes to Existing Distribution Systems
Changes shall be designed to maintain an operating pressure at each service connection of not less than 40 psi during PHD. If a utility cannot meet this requirement as a result of cost and/or system limitation, the utility must request an exemption in accordance with Section I.8.A of this General Order.
D. Pressure Requirement Exceptions
A water utility may furnish service to a customer at less than the pressure requirement specified in this General Order, if the customer is fully advised of the conditions under which service will be provided, and a customer agreement is secured in writing. The limited nature of the service shall also be recorded as a deed restriction on the property. The properties receiving service at other than specified operating pressures specified in this General Order shall be identified on the utility's service area map.
Each utility shall maintain one or more pressure recorders for each separately operated system for the purpose of making pressure surveys as required by these rules. These recorders shall be able to record the pressure experienced on such a system and shall be able to record a continuous 24-hour test. Each utility serving 1000 or more customers in a separately operated system or 1000 or more customers in any separately operated system of a multi-system utility shall maintain one
or more of these pressure recorders in service at some representative points, as determined by the utility.
(1) At regular intervals, but not less than once each year, each utility shall make a survey of pressures in its distribution system of sufficient magnitude to indicate the pressures maintained at representative points on its system. Such surveys should be made at or near the period of PHD and MDD. The pressure records for these surveys shall show the date and time of beginning and end of the test and the location at which the test was made.
(2) Records of these pressure surveys shall be maintained by the utility for a period of at least three years or after the next general rate case filing, whichever is longer, and shall be made available to representatives, agents or employees of the Commission upon request.
