(A) General provisions.
(1) The town owns the town’s culinary water infrastructure. The responsible official is the Mayor. Daily operations and maintenance of the culinary water infrastructure may be delegated to the Water Superintendent.
(2) The Water Superintendent insures that the culinary water infrastructure is operated and maintained in compliance with state’s public drinking water regulations and standard system operating procedures. When the Water Superintendent is unavailable, the certified water system operator is responsible to make those decisions required for the maintenance and operation of the system in consultation with, and under the direction of, the Mayor.
(3) As a minimum emergency response, the certified water system operator or the Water Superintendent shall immediately:
(a) Identify the emergency situation;
(b) Determine necessary recommendations;
(c) Contact the Mayor for appropriate response; and
(d) Assist the Mayor in contacting other appropriate emergency services.
(B) Emergency declaration; Emergency Coordinator. The Water Superintendent shall serve as the Emergency Coordinator for purposes of this chapter, and, after consultation with the Mayor, is responsible for:
(1) Declaring any emergency related to the culinary water infrastructure;
(2) Declaring the level of the emergency;
(3) Coordinating all emergency response actions to be taken;
(4) Assessing and prioritizing repairs;
(5) Coordinating the actions of the contractor or other personnel and equipment, including such agencies as law enforcement, fire fighting and medical personnel;
(6) Keeping a written log of all actions taken;
(7) Communicating with the engineer to determine steps to be taken to facilitate the rapid repair/replacement of water infrastructure, and requesting his or her presence, when required:
(a) Prioritize the repair or replacement of all damaged facilities/infrastructure; and
(b) The determination of priorities shall be based on:
1. The condition of the culinary water treatment plant and distribution system;
2. The effect of the repairs/replacement on future system integrity;
3. Medical and/or emergency care requirements;
4. Drinking water and sanitation needs of the public;
5. Fire fighting requirements;
6. Amount of water remaining in storage; and
7. Areas of the distribution system that have the highest priority water needs.
(8) Assuring that the Emergency Control Center is activated and staffed, when the level of the emergency warrants;
(9) Informing and communicating with the state’s Division of Drinking Water regarding and extraordinary measures taken to deal with the emergency. This would include, but not be limited to, boil orders, unusual repair methods or use of unapproved water sources; and
(10) Post emergency assessment. To include:
(a) A detailed safety inspection of the town’s culinary water infrastructure;
(b) The repairs made or portions of the facilities in an emergency fashion;
(c) Document all contracts, agreements, emergency work or materials used during the emergency;
(d) Procure emergency reimbursement money from state and federal agencies;
(e) Ensure proper payment for all work, equipment and materials used during the emergency;
(f) Inform all key agencies of the system status and of any further work to be completed; and
(g) Certify repaired portions of the system as ready for use.
(C) Public Relations Coordinator.
(1) The Mayor shall be the Public Relations Coordinator and will be responsible for all news releases to the media. In a Level 3 or Level 4 emergency, the Mayor shall determine the necessity of making any public notification, by any reasonable means, including:
(a) Having the Fire Department or law enforcement personnel make announcements by loudspeaker while driving the town streets;
(b) Having religious organizations spread notifications to their members;
(c) Posting public notices; and
(d) Utilizing any reasonable means of notification.
(2) Will be responsible for issuing emergency information to the public, including:
(a) Any possible contamination to the drinking water;
(b) Emergency procedures;
(c) Boil orders: define areas effected;
(d) The availability and location of alternate sources of drinking water;
(e) Any water use restrictions or conservation measures; and
(f) Declaring the end of the emergency.
(3) Will work closely with the Emergency Coordinator to ensure that all information released is accurate and timely;
(4) Will be responsible for contacting the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, for assistance; and
(5) After making every reasonable effort to contact the Mayor and being unsuccessful, the Water Superintendent shall act as Public Relations Coordinator:
(D) Emergency control center.
(1) Shall be located at the Town Hall, unless otherwise designated by the Emergency Coordinator on each emergency occurrence basis;
(2) If town staff members are unavailable or occupied with other duties, the Emergency Coordinator may designate other qualified personnel as staff; and
(3) Should only be activated during a Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4 emergency or as deemed necessary by the Emergency Coordinator.
(E) General definitions and responsibilities. (See Attachment A, attached to the resolution codified herein.)
CERTIFIED WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR. The individual having responsibility for the maintenance of the culinary water treatment plant and distribution system. This person shall possess at least a Grade III operator certification for culinary water treatment in accordance with the state’s Drinking Water Operator Certification Regulations. This person shall report directly, first to the Water Superintendent or, secondly, to the Mayor.
CONTRACTOR. An individual or corporation, generally having a continuing relationship with the town, who provides labor and equipment for the repair, maintenance and operation of the culinary water infrastructure in the event of an emergency. The CONTRACTOR should possess training and experience with culinary water infrastructure and be licensed in the state with an E-100 engineering license.
ENGINEER. An individual or corporation; generally having a continuing relationship with the town, who provides technical advice and assistance pertaining to the treatment plant and distribution system. The ENGINEER may be an employee of the town or a consultant retained to provide advice and support. The ENGINEER shall possess qualifications, training and experience with culinary water infrastructure and shall be a licensed professional engineer in the state.
MAYOR. The Mayor of the Town of Oak City. The MAYOR shall generally act as the Public Relations Coordinator and assist the Water Superintendent in administrative matters.
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY. A city, town or county near the Town of Oak City that may be called upon to lend assistance in terms of labor, materials, equipment and advice in times of emergency.
RURAL WATER AUTHORITY. An agency/individual that has direct responsibility for the region in which the Town of Oak City is located. The RURAL WATER AUTHORITY may be contacted for assistance as needed.
TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER. A member of the Town of Oak City Town Council designated as the “Water Superintendent” responsible for the culinary water infrastructure.
TOWN STAFF MEMBER. Any employee of the Town of Oak City, including town officials not already listed.
(Res. 2003-01, passed 1-16-2003)