Sec. 503.6. Valves, blow-offs and hydrants

(a) Valves and blow-offs.

Each water corporation shall have a program to test each valve and blow-off and implement such program so that each valve and blow-off is tested at least once every five years. Upon staff's request, the details of the program will be submitted for its review and approval. Implementation of this program will begin no later than two years after the effective date of these standards. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to service line valves.

(b) Hydrants.

Each water corporation which provides public fire protection shall have a program to inspect and test each hydrant a minimum of once every three years with a minimum of one-third of the hydrants being inspected and tested annually. The method of inspecting and testing each hydrant will conform to the American Water Works Association Manual M-17, third edition, printed in 1989 and entitled Installation, Field Testing and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants, as described in section 10.3 of this Title. The implementation of this program will begin no later than two years after the effective date of these standards.

(c) Monitoring requirements.

(1) Valves and blow-offs.

The department shall be notified by January 31st of the subsequent year whenever the number of either valves or blow-offs not completely functional/operable and accessible exceeds five percent of the total of each tested during the preceding year, and the water corporation shall at the same time provide its plan for rectifying the problem and returning the system to compliance.

(2) Hydrants.

The department shall be notified by January 31st of the subsequent year whenever the number of hydrants not completely functional/operable and accessible exceeds the limitations set forth in the table below on a proportionate basis for the number of hydrants tested during the preceding year. The department reserves the right to require more frequent testing should these limitations be exceeded.

Number of hydrants in system	Percent and number limit
Less than 500	5% not to exceed 15
500 to 1,000	3% not to exceed 21
1,001 to 5,000	2% not to exceed 24
Over 5,000	0.5% of all hydrants