We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed regulatory changes. Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority strongly opposes language requiring fire hydrant weep holes to be plugged, and concurs with comments entered by other waterworks owners and public safety organizations. Specifically, the public safety risk posed by a frozen hydrant will always outweigh any theoretical public health risk from an "unplugged" weep hole. Consequently, we object to the inclusion of any language regarding fire hydrant weep holes and/or draining hydrants, and request removal of 12VAC5-590-1170/A entirely.