§8-19-21. Specifications for water mains and water service pipes.

Considering the importance of public fire protection, any state or local government, public service district, public or private utility which installs or constructs water mains, shall ensure that all new mains specifically intended to provide fire protection are not less than six inches in diameter. Effective July 1, 2007, when any state or local government, public service district, public or private utility installs or constructs water mains along a platted roadway or a public highway, using a six inch or greater line, that is specifically designed to provide fire protection, the state or local government, public service district, public or private utility shall install fire hydrants at intervals of not more than two thousand feet, unless there are no dwellings or businesses located one thousand feet from such proposed hydrant: Provided, That the Legislature shall study the effect, cost and feasibility of the internal hydrant valve and report the findings of that study to the 2008 regular session of the Legislature. A permit or other written approval shall be obtained from the Department of Health for each hydrant or group of hydrants installed in compliance with section nine, article one, chapter sixteen of the West Virginia Code as amended: Provided, however, That all newly constructed water distribution systems transferred to a public or private utility shall have mains at least six inches in diameter where fire flows are required by the public or private utility: Provided further, That the utility providing service has sufficient hydraulic capacity as determined by the Department of Health.