Plans and Specifications

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth requirements for submission, review and approval of engineering reports, plans and specifications for community water supply planning and construction. (1) Report Required. When plans are being made by a supplier of water to a community water system or subdivision for constructing expansions, modifications, and improvements of the water supply source, water treatment facility, or for the development of a new community water system or subdivision, the supplier of water shall submit an engineer-prepared report to the department for review and approval. Upon receipt of an engineering report, the department will evaluate the report and either approve the report in writing or outline the requirements for further investigation. (A) Written approval of the engineering report shall be obtained before construction plans and specifications are finalized, unless otherwise approved by the department. (B) Engineering reports need not be submitted to the department for facilities constructed under a supervised program. (C) If the original approved report is more than two (2) years old, an updated engineering report must be submitted before final plans and specifications will be reviewed or as deemed necessary by the department. (2) Plans and Specifications Required. (A) Construction Permit Authorization. 1. Every supplier of water to a community water supply or a water system serving a subdivision must submit to the department, plans and specifications prepared by an engineer for review and issuance of a written approval to construct prior to initiating construction of— A. A new water treatment facility(ies), new water supply source(s), and/or a new distribution system; and B. Expansions or modifications of existing water treatment facilities which would significantly change or alter plant capacity or treatment processes, modification of an existing water supply source which might reasonably result in significant change in the quality or quantity of water originally approved for the source, or expansion or modification of water distribution systems unless a supervised program of design, construction, and construction supervision is maintained by the supplier of water. 2. The department will review plans and specifications, advise the supplier of water and his/her engineer of the review findings, and outline additional information or changes necessary for approval. 3. The department may approve the plans and specifications by issuance of a written approval to construct which will describe the facilities to be constructed along with any comments or conditions of approval. (B) Owner Supervised Program. 1. A supplier of water to a community water supply that desires to conduct a supervised program for construction of water distribution systems, in lieu of submitting plans for approval, must submit to the department a written request for approval. 2. Approval of supervised programs may be granted for a period of up to five (5) years. Supervised programs will be periodically reviewed by the department and may be revoked should the supplier of water fail to conduct the program in accordance with the approved plan. 3. Upon revocation of a supervised program, engineering plans and specifications must be submitted to the department for review and issuance of a written approval to construct. 4. A modification(s) to an approved supervised program may be made by written request to the department. 5. A supervised program shall provide the following minimum elements: A. Sizing water mains and appurtenances with minimum four-inch (4") diameters so that a minimum pressure of twenty pounds per square inch (20 psi) is maintained under normal flow conditions. Requests for approval to install lesser diameter water mains may be granted by the department upon submission of standard design data, including a hydraulic analysis; B. Maintenance of permanent records and drawings for review by the department, of the entire water distribution network including all appurtenances to the network, such as valves, hydrants, and cleanouts, along with plans and specifications of projects under construction; C. Protection of water mains during construction from sources of contamination by— (I) Maintaining at least a ten-foot (10') horizontal separation of water mains from any existing or proposed sanitary sewer, force main, or storm sewer. The distance must be measured edge-to-edge. Installation of the water main closer to a sanitary sewer is acceptable where the water main is laid in a separate trench or on an undisturbed earth shelf located on one (1) side of the sanitary sewer at an elevation so the bottom of the water main is at least eighteen inches (18") above the top of the sanitary sewer; (II) Providing a minimum vertical distance of eighteen inches (18") between the outside of the water main and the outside of the sanitary sewer, force main, or storm sewer where water mains cross sanitary sewer mains, force mains, or storm sewers. This shall be the case where the water main is either above or below the sanitary sewer, force main, or storm sewer. At crossings, one (1) full length of water pipe must be located so both joints will be as far from the sanitary sewer, force main, or storm sewer line as possible. Special structural support for the water and sanitary sewer, force main, or storm sewer pipes may be required; (III) Locating water mains so that they do not pass through or come in contact with any sanitary sewer manhole; and (IV) Consulting with the department as to the precautions necessary where the conditions in parts (2)(B)5.C.(I)–(IV) cannot be met. (3) If construction has not commenced within two (2) years after the date of issue or there is a halt in construction of more than two (2) years, the approval to construct will be void unless an extension of time has been granted by the department. (4) All construction work must conform to approved plans and specifications. (A) Should it be necessary or desirable to make a material change in the approved design which will affect water quality, capacity, and sanitary features or performance, revised plans and specifications, together with a written statement of the reasons for the change, must be submitted to the department for review and approval must be obtained in writing before the work affected by the change is undertaken. RESOURCES (B) Minor revisions not affecting water quality, capacity, flow, sanitary features or performance will be permitted during construction without further approval; provided, as-built plans documenting these changes are submitted to the department. (5) Final Approval of Construction. (A) A final inspection completed by the department or certified by an engineer with the approval of the department. (B) Construction conformance with the approved plans and specifications and any changes documented by the submission of two (2) copies of as-built plans with the affixed seal of the engineer. (C) A supplier of water having an approved supervised program for construction does not need additional approval of construction for work completed under that program. (6) The department will review engineering reports, engineering plans and specifications, requests for approval of supervised water main extension programs, and carry out inspections required for final approval of construction within thirty (30) working days of receipt of request. Review time is subject to emergency conditions, manpower availability or other factors beyond department control. (7) Essential portions of copies of engineering documents will be kept on file by the department. AUTHORITY: section 640.100, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed May 4, 1979, effective Sept. 14, 1979. Amended: Filed April 14, 1981, effective Oct. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed April 13, 2018, effective Dec. 30, 2018. *Original authority: 640.100, RSMo 1939, amended 1978, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2014.