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District bylaws under consideration
F. Conservation
1. When implemented, the PIWD Water Shortage Regulations shall remain in effect until further notice. As described below, each Stage is progressively restricted and implemented to help insure adequate water reserves for the island. Stage 1 shall be implemented each year to raise awareness of Prudence Island’s limited water resource. Stages 2, 3 and 4 shall be implemented only in more severe circumstances.
Notification to customers of the implementation of All stages of restriction will be posted in at least two public places within the geographic boundaries of the PIWD and on the PIWD web site (www.pih2o.org).
Notification to customers of the implementation of Stage 3, or 4 will be posted and published in the Sakonnet Times, (at the next available publishing date.).
2. The following Stages and conservation measures shall be implemented at the discretion of the Operations Manager and/or the Board.
a. Stage I - Public Awareness: This Stage shall be implemented by the Board annually as an educational tool to remind customers of the limited water resource and methods to conserve water.
b. Stage 2 – Conservation: This Stage restricts the watering of lawns, landscaping, shrubs, trees, flower gardens, use of power washers, and washing of vehicles/boats to Tuesday through Thursday only. All hoses must be equipped with an automatic shutoff device.
Vegetable gardens may be watered any day of the week, and can use sprinklers ONLY IF ATTENDED
The use of an ELECTRONIC or MECHANICAL TIMER is PROHIBITED
Watering hours are early morning (before 9 a.m.) or late evening (after 6 p.m.) only.
Filling of ponds, pools, hot tubs etc. (less than 300 gallons) restricted to early morning (before 9 a.m.) or late evening (after 7 p.m.) by permit issued by the PIWD only. Ponds, pools, hot tubs etc. greater than 300 gallons will require tanker truck filling.
c. Stage 3 – Conservation: Watering of lawns, landscaping, shrubs, trees, gardens, use of power washers and washing of vehicles/boats is prohibited. A special permit may be issued by the PIWD to allow for watering of newly planted lawns and shrubs or trees for a limited time.
Vegetable gardens may be watered Tuesday through Thursday only.
Watering hours are early morning (before 9 a.m.) or late evening (after 6 p.m.) only.
A limited number of special permits may be issued for weekend vegetable garden watering on a case by case basis, by the PIWD Operations Manager or the Board.
Watering hours are early morning (before 9 a.m.) or late evening (after 7 p.m.) only. Permitted watering shall be by hand held hose or container only. All hoses must be equipped with an automatic shutoff device.
The use of subsurface, soaker hose or sprinkler is PROHIBITED
The use of an ELECTRONIC or MECHANICAL TIMER is PROHIBITED
Filling of ponds, pools, hot tubs and similar equipment shall not be permitted under any circumstances.
d. Stage 4 - Severe Conservation: Watering of lawns, landscaping, shrubs or trees, gardens (including vegetable gardens) and vehicles/boatsprohibited. Filling of ponds, pools, hot tubs and similar equipment shall not be permitted under any circumstances.
Prudence Island Water District List of Rates and Charges
Water service rates $500.00
Late payment fee $5.00/month
Return Check Fee $15.00
Water shutoff/reinstatement fee $50.00
summer/winter shutoff/reactivation fee $25.00
Scheduled summer/winter shutoff/reactivation - No Charge
Scheduled shutoff/reactivation for working on line or near line- No Charge
Water Dumping penalty $100.00
Water conservation fines
Failure to comply with Stage 2 or 3 restrictions shall be as follows:
Second Offense: $50.00 fine
Third Offense: $150.00 fine
Fourth Offense $250.00 fine
Failure to comply with stage 4 restrictions $250.00
Fines for Filling of Pools, Ponds, Hot tubs etc.
a. Stage 2 noncompliance: $100.00 fine plus $1.00 per gallon
b. Stage 3 noncompliance: $250.00 fine plus $1.00 per gallon
c. Stage 4 noncompliance: $500.00 fine plus $1.00 per gallon
REVISIONS TO CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM UNDER CONSIDERATION:
2. Policy
It is the responsibility of the PIWD to provide safe potable water. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the system the PIWD shall implement a Cross Connection Control Program by adopting rules and procedures to control cross connections using a containment strategy to protect the public water supply from the possibility of contamination by backflow from sources outside the supply system.
3. Responsibilities
A. Prudence Island Water District
1. Residential Installations - The PIWD requires a minimum of a dual check valve to be installed in all new residential construction, new service connections and in renovations requiring service being shutoff.
2. Commercial Installations - The PIWD requires all commercial customers to install a backflow device
In order to maintain the proper level of safety for the system, the PIWD will conduct an on site evaluation and/or inspection of plans in order to make the proper determination of the type of backflow preventer required.
3. For all existing connections, at its option, the PIWD may perform surveys and follow up inspections.
Any connection not meeting the minimum standard will be sent a letter informing the owner of the corrective action needed and the time frame in which the corrective action must be completed.
4. Re-inspections will be done to insure compliance with the corrective action required.
If an owner hasn’t completed the corrective action required , the PIWD will inform the owner by letter that they have an additional fifteen (15) days to comply, and that failure to comply upon the second re-inspection will result in immediate water shutoff.
The PIWD may extend the grace period but only if the owner informs the PIWD of any extenuating circumstances that would prevent compliance before the end of the fifteen (15) day extension, at which time the PIWD may extend the grace period up to an additional fifteen (15) days.
5. The PIWD has the responsibility to protect the public health, and if a serious threat to the system exists, water service will be terminated immediately.
6. The PIWD shall have a person who is a certified backflow prevention device surveyor. The PIWD will also maintain a list of private contractors who are certified backflow device testers.
B. OWNER
1. The owner shall be responsible for the elimination or protection of all cross connections on his property. The use of fixture outlet protection devices should be used for that purpose
2. The owner (after notification from the PIWD) will install, maintain, and have inspected by a qualified inspector all backflow preventers on the property.
3.The owner shall not modify, or bypass any backflow preventer.
4. The owner shall install ONLY backflow preventers approved by the PIWD, and the backflow preventer must be installed in a location approved by the PIWD.
5. Any owner having a private well must install a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer (RPZ) or appropriate air gap to protect the system. The location of this device will be determined by the system manager.
6. The owner should be aware that the installation of a backflow device may result in a potential closed plumbing system within the residence. Provisions may have to be made by the owner to provide for thermal expansion within the closed system.
4. PIWD CCP Administration
The PIWD will implement a Cross-Connection Control Program that includes the keeping of records which meet the requirements of the Rhode Island Department of Health rules and regulations pertaining to Drinking Water, Section 9.4 (Cross Connection Control) .
This will be done within a ten (10) year period.
The PIWD must protect the public water supply and requires containment at all service connections through the use of approved air gaps and/or backflow preventers.
All property owners shall allow inspection for possible cross-connections and shall follow the requirements set by the PIWD.
The PIWD will plan and implement a program that determines the level of hazard and suitable timeframes for the following:
1. Identification: Surveying all< (omit)service connections, determine the level of hazard and selecting the appropriate backflow preventer by a certified cross-connection surveyor
2. Elimination: A timetable will be set depending on the degree of existing or potential hazard for the completion of identified corrections.
3. Inspection: A schedule will be set for the inspection and/or testing of all backflow preventers by a Certified backflow inspector/tester.
5. Records
A . PIWD will develop and maintain the following records
1. Master file of all service connections showing approved air gap or backflow preventers.
This file will include:
a. Connection location
b. Description of device
c. Installation Date
d. History of inspections
e. Tests and test results
f. Repairs
g. Name of Inspector
2. Program summary reports
This report would include:
a. Number of surveys done each year
b. Number of airgap and/or backflow device connections done each year
c. number of inspections done each year
3. Backflow incident report.
6. Enforcement Policy
The PIWD will be responsible for protecting the water distribution system from contamination due to backflow or back-siphonage of contaminants or pollution through the water service connection. To protect the system the PIWD’s Operations manager (or designated agent) will give written notice to each customer to install an approved backflow device at each service connection. The expense of this device and its installation will be borne by the customer.
The customer shall install an approved device within forty five (45) days, for a low level hazard, and ten (10) days for a moderate or high level hazard unless an extension is granted by the PIWD.
Service shall be immediately terminated if access is refused to any location for inspection of the service connection or if an immediate hazard exists or is imminent.
7. Quality Assurance and Control
Cross-connection control surveys will be done by persons under the direction of or having a current certification from a recognized certification program accepted by the RIDOH and the PIWD. A copy of this certification will be kept on file by the PIWD.
Testing of backflow preventers will be done by persons under the direction of or having a current certification from a recognized certification program accepted by the RIDOH and the PIWD. A copy of this certification will be kept on file by the PIWD.
All backflow devices will be approved by the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE),and/or other agencies approved by RIDOH and PIWD.
8. Templates
The PIWD will adopt standardized survey forms, reports, permits, and notifications used for this program.
9. Public Education
The PIWD adopt a public education program that will educate the customer. Information about backflow and how it occurs, cross-connections, what they are, their danger to the water supply how to prevent them, and how to protect the water system past the service connection. Customers will also be educated about backflow devices and how installation of such a device may result in a closed loop system. Such systems would need the installation of thermal expansion devices and/or pressure relief valves.
10. Response
The PIWD will develop an emergency response plan for procedures on dealing with cross –connection contamination situations.
This plan would include procedures for:
- Elimination of cross-connection
- Identification of the contaminant
-Isolation and elimination of the contaminant from the system.
- Public Safety-Notification to customers (and public health officials) as to proper use of the water during the event.
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