Community PWS Generator and Emergency Contingency and Response Plan Requirements

On November 23, 2015, RCSA Section § 19-13-B102 was amended regarding generator and emergency contingency and response plan requirements. All community water systems are required to install and maintain a standby generator capable of providing sufficient power to supply the power demands of the water system at each water system facility location. Each generator must be minimally equipped with an automatic transfer switch and be fueled by propane or natural gas. For requirements pertaining to allowable alternative sources of backup power see the relevant regulation. The final due date for the installation of emergency power was December 17, 2018 for the smallest Community Public Water Systems (serving <10,000 people).

Further, each CWS that does not prepare a water supply plan in accordance with Connecticut General Statute § 25-33, shall prepare an emergency contingency and response plan. The plan shall contain the CWS’s preparations for and proposed responses to any disruption of the CWS’s supply of water to the CWS’s consumers due to a loss of power of the CWS’s water supply. The emergency contingency and response plan was required to be completed by August 17, 2016, and such plan should be kept up to date and on file at the PWS. The plan should be made available to the Department upon request and be available at the time of the sanitary survey.

By installing and maintaining operational generators that maintain adequate water pressure in the distribution system during a power outage, there is increased public health protection against backsiphonage events that can expose your water system to potential contamination during periods of low or no water pressure.