Dear Reader:
The following document was created from the MTAS electronic library known as MORe (www.mtas.tennessee.edu/more). This online library is maintained daily by MTAS staff and seeks to represent the most current information regarding issues relative to Tennessee municipal government.
We hope this information will be useful to you; reference to it will assist you with many of the questions that will arise in your tenure with municipal government. However, the Tennessee Code Annotated and other relevant laws or regulations should always be consulted before any action is taken based upon the contents of this document.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments regarding this information or any other MORe material.
Sincerely,
The University of Tennessee
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
1610 University Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921-6741
865-974-0411 phone
865-974-0423 fax
www.mtas.tennessee.edu
Tennessee Water Regulations
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulations affect the way any fire department uses fire hydrants connected to a public water system. The current TDEC regulations took effect on January 1, 2006 and follow the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. TDEC regulations emphasize the protection of the public water supply and the prevention of introducing pollutants and contaminants into water systems.
The original rules in Tennessee were adopted in June 1974, and have changed at least four times over the past 43 years. On October 29, 2005, TDEC adopted state water regulations requiring all communities having or installing water systems to protect the system against contamination and to identify fire hydrants connected to the system. These rules are from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Bureau of Environment – Division of Water Supply. The Rules and Regulations are issued under the authority of Public Acts of 1983, Chapter 324 where the Division of Water Supply is responsible for the supervision of all public water systems.
The purpose of these Rules and Regulations is to provide guidelines for the interpretation of T.C.A. § 68-221-701 et seq. and to set out the procedures to be followed by the department in carrying out the State’s primary enforcement responsibility under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
The rules apply to all public water supply systems that provide water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
According to the revised rule Paragraph (18) of Rule 0400-45-1-.17 Operations and Maintenance is amended in its entirety and substituting the following so that as amended the paragraph shall read:
(18) All community water systems planning to or having installed hydrants must protect the system from contamination. All water mains designed for fire protection must be six inches or larger and be able to provide 500 gallons per minute with 20 pounds per square inch residual pressure. Fire Hydrants shall not be installed on water mains less than six inches in diameter or on water mains that cannot produce 500 gpm at 20-psi residual pressure unless the tops are painted red. Out of service hydrants shall have tops painted black or covered with a black shroud or tape.
Existing Class C hydrants (hydrants unable to deliver a flow of 500 gpm at a residual pressure of 20 psi) shall have their tops painted red by January 1, 2008.
The water system must provide notification by certified mail at least once every five years beginning January 1, 2008, to each fire department that has reason to utilize the hydrants, that hydrants with tops painted red (Class C Hydrants) cannot be connected directly to a pumper fire truck. Fire Departments may be allowed to fill booster tanks on any fire apparatus from an available hydrant by using the water system’s available pressure only (fire pumps shall not be engaged during refill operations from a Class C hydrant).
The complete list of TDEC rules is available online at the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website at https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0400/0400-45/0400-45.htm [1]
Links:
[1] https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0400/0400-45/0400-45.htm
DISCLAIMER: The letters and publications written by the MTAS consultants were written based upon the law at the time and/or a specific sets of facts. The laws referenced in the letters and publications may have changed and/or the technical advice provided may not be applicable to your city or circumstances. Always consult with your city attorney or an MTAS consultant before taking any action based on information contained in this website.
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