Wash. Admin. Code § 480-110-365 - Service responsibilities

(1) Customer responsibility - Customers must notify the water company in writing prior to making a change in equipment or usage that will materially affect the service being provided by the company. The customer must:

(a) Provide the company adequate time to install necessary additional facilities or supply; and

(b) Pay an equitable share of the cost of necessary additional facilities, if any, as provided in the company's tariff or through a contract submitted to the commission for approval.

(2) Water company responsibility. Each water company must:

(a) Install and maintain all equipment at appropriate locations necessary to operate the system;

(b) Install additional equipment as required by the commission in connection with performing special investigations; and

(c) Notify all affected customers when changes to the service will require customers to adjust their equipment.

(i) If the customer has been advised of the needed change prior to taking service, the company has no obligation to pay for any costs in connection with making required changes to the customer's equipment.

(ii) If the change in service is required by law, the company has no obligation to pay for any costs in connection with making required changes to the customer's equipment.

(iii) Otherwise when equipment must be adjusted to permit use under the changed conditions, the cost of any necessary adjustments must be equitably shared by the company and customer.

(3) Maintenance. Each water company must maintain its plant and system in a condition that enables it to furnish adequate service and meet its obligation under chapter 246-290 WAC, Public water supplies or chapter 246-291 WAC, Group B public water systems, as applicable.

(4) Quality of water. Each water company must meet Washington department of health requirements under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC, as applicable.

(5) Protection of water supply. Each water company must protect its sources of supply, as required by Washington department of health under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC, as applicable.

(6) Operations and maintenance. Each water company must comply with Washington department of health rules regarding operation and maintenance, as required under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC as applicable, and by good engineering practices.

(7) Test records. Each water company must:

(a) Keep a complete record of each test made for quality and service conditions as required under these rules. The records must contain complete information concerning the test, including such items as the commission may require;

(b) Provide the records to the commission staff upon request.

(8) Interruption of service and service outages:

(a) Each water company must make all reasonable efforts to avoid outage of service but are not insurers in the event of emergency, acts of God, or similar event. When outages do occur, the company must make reasonable efforts to reestablish service with a minimum of delay.

(b) When making necessary repairs or changes to its facilities, a water company:

(i) May interrupt service for a period of time as reasonably necessary and in a manner that minimizes the inconvenience to the customers; and

(ii) Must attempt to do the work during working hours regularly maintained by the company.

(c) A water company may interrupt service without incurring any liability.

(9) Notice of service interruptions. Each water company must:

(a) Notify its customers of a scheduled interruption twenty-four hours in advance through newspapers, radio announcements, or other means;

(b) Notify police and fire departments affected by the interruption individually;

(c) Keep a record of all interruptions of service affecting a substantial number of customers, including in such records:

(i) The location;

(ii) The date and time;

(iii) The duration; and

(iv) The cause of each interruption, if known.

(d) Provide copies of records to the commission staff, upon request;

(e) Notify the Washington department of health.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 480-110-365

Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-110-365, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No. UW-980082), § 480-110-365, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99.