<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-101" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A person shall obtain a permit from the Commission before the person may engage in plumbing, waterworks, or sewer construction in a building or on private property in the sanitary district or areas of Prince George’s County that are not in the sanitary district.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The person shall pay to the Commission a reasonable permit fee set by the Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Work performed under a permit authorized by this section shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>conform to the Commission’s regulations; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>be subject to any inspection that the Commission considers necessary.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-102" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A person shall obtain a permit from the Commission before the person may construct a private or semipublic water supply or sewer system for the use of at least two buildings or premises in the sanitary district or areas of Prince George’s County that are not in the sanitary district.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The person shall pay to the Commission a reasonable permit fee.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The private or semipublic water supply or sewer system shall be installed, maintained, and operated under regulations that the Commission adopts.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The owner or operator of the system shall pay to the Commission a reasonable supervision and inspection fee that the Commission sets.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If an owner or operator of a private or semipublic water supply or sewer system fails or refuses to correct, maintain, or operate the system in compliance with the requirements of the Commission, the Commission may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>make the correction or take over the operation of the system for the period necessary; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>collect the costs for the correction or operation from the owner or operator.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-103" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A person shall obtain a permit from the Commission before the person may make a hookup with a water or sewer service line that the Commission constructs or maintains.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A hookup shall be made under the conditions that the Commission authorizes.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>To prevent or eliminate leakage, loss of water, the unnecessary use of sewers, or other waste of water, the Commission may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>at a reasonable time, enter a building or premises that has a connection with the water supply or sewer system under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>issue an order requiring a change in the plumbing, waterworks, or water or sewer connection that the Commission considers necessary.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-104" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>in Montgomery County:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an apartment house with fewer than five dwelling units; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a water supply or sewage collection and disposal system constructed:</text> <level label="1"> <text>to serve only a single building or group of buildings serving as a single farm unit or as a single commercial or industrial establishment;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>by the county, an instrumentality of the county, or the City of Rockville; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>by a municipality, if the municipality owned and operated the system on June 1, 1965; and</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>in Prince George’s County, a water supply or sewage collection and disposal system:</text> <level label="i"> <text>constructed to serve only a single family residence or a single building; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>owned and operated by a municipality on January 1, 1959.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>This subsection does not apply to Calvert Manor.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a person shall obtain a permit from the Commission before the person may construct, alter, extend, or operate a water supply or sewage collection and disposal system outside the sanitary district in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission may not issue a permit under subsection (b) of this section until the Commission approves:</text> <level label="i"> <text>complete plans and specifications for the construction, alteration, extension, or operation of the water supply or sewage collection and disposal system; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any other information that the Commission requires.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>during construction, inspect all projects for which the permit was issued; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>require the construction to conform to the approved plans and specifications.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Commission may charge a reasonable permit fee not exceeding 6% of the estimated construction cost for a project described in this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>A person holding a permit under subsection (b) of this section shall submit to the Commission:</text> <level label="i"> <text>any material change in the plans and specifications; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a statement of the reasons for the change.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission shall approve and issue a permit for a material change before the person may include the change in the actual construction.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A water supply or sewage collection and disposal system, including oxidation ponds and sewage lagoons, for which a permit is required under this section shall be installed, maintained, and operated under regulations that the Commission adopts.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Commission shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>inspect the operations of any water supply or sewage collection and disposal system authorized under this section;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>require the owners or operators of the system to maintain and operate the system in compliance with the Commission’s reasonable requirements and with regard to public health, safety, and comfort;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>set and collect from the owners or operators of the system a reasonable fee for the supervision and inspection of the system; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>if the owner or operator fails or refuses to correct, maintain, or operate the system in compliance with the Commission’s requirements:</text> <level label="i"> <text>make the correction or take over the operation of the system for any period necessary; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>collect the costs for the correction or operation from the owner or operator.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>The Commission:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall adjust its inspection fees accordingly if a municipality in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County:</text> <level label="i"> <text>owns or operates a water supply or sewage collection and disposal system;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>performs or has performed bacteriological and chemical analyses on the system by qualified personnel, as approved by the Department of the Environment and the Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>files with the Commission a monthly report of the analyses showing that satisfactory operating conditions exist in the system; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is not required to duplicate an analysis.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <level label="1"> <text>If a water or sewage treatment facility is constructed under a Commission permit and operates subject to inspection by the Department of the Environment, the Commission is not required to duplicate the operational inspection functions that the Department of the Environment conducts.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission may eliminate or reduce its operation and inspection fee in proportion to the eliminated inspection activities.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>All other requirements of the Commission permit for the facility shall be applicable.</text> </level> </level> <level label="i"> <level label="1"> <text>When a water supply or sewage collection and disposal system authorized under this section is completed, the person constructing the system shall file with the Commission as a permanent record a certified copy of the plans in full, showing the work as built.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The record shall include the information and be in the form that the Commission requires.</text> </level> </level> <level label="j"> <text>A person found to have violated this section is not relieved from the requirement to secure and pay for a permit and comply with all other applicable provisions of this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-105" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In those parts of Prince George’s County that are not in the sanitary district, the Commission’s plumbing regulations:</text> <level label="i"> <text>apply to plumbing installations that began on or after June 1, 1965; but</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>do not apply to plumbing installations that existed on July 1, 1965.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>The owner of the property where plumbing installations existed on July 1, 1965, is not required to change the plumbing until water or sewer service is obtained from a Commission system.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If water or sewer service is obtained from a Commission system, this section and the Commission’s regulations apply to the property and the plumbing as if the property were in the sanitary district.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission may enter into an agreement with Prince George’s County under which the county will issue the necessary permit and perform the necessary inspection for and in the name of the Commission in those areas that are not in the sanitary district, if the agreement provides that the plumbing regulations of the Commission will be applied.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>This subsection or an agreement entered into under this subsection does not affect the power of the Commission:</text> <level label="i"> <text>to adopt regulations to install plumbing in Prince George’s County as the Commission considers necessary for the public health; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>to regulate public and semipublic water supply and sewer systems under this section and § 24–102 of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-106" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to § 12–305 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article, only the Commission may issue licenses to persons to work in the plumbing business in areas of Montgomery County or Prince George’s County under the jurisdiction of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>License fees may not exceed the fees set in the Maryland Plumbing Act.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Commission shall exercise the authority of the State Board of Plumbing in areas under the jurisdiction of the Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>A person holding a valid master plumber/gasfitter license or a journeyman plumber/gasfitter license issued by the Commission is entitled to an equivalent license issued by the State Board of Plumbing without examination on presentation of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the license issued by the Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a notarized statement of good standing issued by the Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A person holding a valid master plumber/gasfitter license or a journeyman plumber/gasfitter license issued by the State Board of Plumbing is entitled to an equivalent license issued by the Commission without examination on presentation of the license issued by the State Board of Plumbing.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Subject to §§ 10–14A–03 and 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article, an individual holding a valid master plumber/gasfitter license in another state is entitled to an equivalent license issued by the Commission without examination on presentation of the license issued by the Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A license issued to a master plumber/gasfitter or a journeyman plumber/gasfitter in good standing under a reciprocity arrangement by the State Board of Plumbing and the Commission before July 1, 1978, remains in force.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-107" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Construction Projects"> <text>Any new or replacement piping that is buried or installed for the purpose of connecting a building to a water supply system or a sewerage system shall comply with the requirements of § 12–129 of this article.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-201" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Sewer Cleaning and Sewage Leaks"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section, “sewer cleaning” means the cleaning or clearing of and the removal of stoppages or obstructions in sanitary sewer lines, pipes, and fixtures.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Sewer cleaning” does not include any installation, maintenance, extension, removal, or alteration of any pipe, sanitary fixture, or other sewer apparatus.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section may not be construed to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>require a person to have a sewer cleaner’s license to clean a sewer on the person’s own property;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>prevent a person from cleaning a sewer on the person’s own property; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>apply to or prohibit the cleaning by any person of a sewer or sanitary fixture of any dwelling, commercial or industrial establishment, or premises owned or operated by the person.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Commission shall adopt and enforce regulations governing sewer cleaning in sanitary sewer lines, pipes, and fixtures connected to the Commission’s sanitary sewer system.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>To qualify for a sewer cleaner’s license, a person need not be a master plumber.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A sewer cleaner’s license does not authorize the licensee to engage in the plumbing business other than sewer cleaning.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission:</text> <level label="i"> <text>shall require that a person other than a licensed master plumber who is engaged in or represents the person to the public as engaged in sewer cleaning be licensed by the Commission;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>may require a bond of the licensee to insure compliance with and adherence to the regulations adopted by the Commission;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>may establish qualifications and examine applicants concerning their competency and qualifications for a license under this section; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>may require a reasonable fee for the issuance and renewal of a license in an amount not more than one–half of the fee charged for a master plumber’s license.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-202" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Sewer Cleaning and Sewage Leaks"> <level label="a"> <text>Within 24 hours of the discovery of a leak in a sanitary sewer line, pipe, or fixture that is connected to the sanitary sewer system of the Commission, the Commission shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>notify the county and any municipal corporation in which the sewage leak is located about:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the sewage leak; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the Commission’s intended action concerning the sewage leak; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>include the following on the Commission’s website:</text> <level label="i"> <text>notice to the general public about the sewage leak; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the phone number for obtaining additional information from the Commission.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Commission shall adopt regulations to implement this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="24-203" title_number="24" title_name="Plumbing, Waterworks, and Sewer Construction" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Sewer Cleaning and Sewage Leaks"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “public access point” includes a parking lot, playground, picnic area, boat launching ramp, or park.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Within 24 hours after a leak is reported, the Commission shall post warning signs at each public access point to a waterway that becomes contaminated by a leak in a sanitary sewer line, pipe, or fixture that is connected to the sanitary sewer system of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A warning sign posted under this section shall include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the source and date of discovery of the leak; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the contact information, including a telephone number, of the Commission for members of the general public to use for obtaining additional information.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Commission:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall post the warning signs downstream from the leak in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is not required to post any warning sign upstream from a leak.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Commission shall adopt regulations to implement this section, including regulations concerning:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the minimum distance from the source of a leak within which warning signs must be posted; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the form and content of the warning signs.</text> </level> </level> </section>