§12–129.

    (a)    Subject to subsection (c) of this section, any new or replacement piping that is buried or installed for the purposes of connecting a building to a water supply system, a sewerage system, an underground storm drain system, or any other applicable device shall be buried or installed with a wire or an equivalent product or technology that makes the piping detectable or locatable.

    (b)    Any wire used to comply with subsection (a) of this section shall:

        (1)    be an insulated copper tracer wire that is suitable for direct burial and has an American wire gauge (AWG) of at least 10, or an equivalent product;

        (2)    be installed:

            (i)    in the same trench as the piping that connects the building to the water supply system or the sewerage system;

            (ii)    within 12 inches of the piping that connects the building to the water supply system or the sewerage system; and

            (iii)    with at least one end of the wire terminating above grade in a location that is accessible and resistant to physical damage, such as in a cleanout or next to an external wall of the building; and

        (3)    run from within 5 feet of an external wall of the building to:

            (i)    the point where the piping intersects with the water supply system or the sewerage system; or

            (ii)    the point where the sewerage system disposes of or processes the sewage.

    (c)    The requirement of subsection (a) of this section with regard to replacement piping connecting a building to a water supply system or a sewerage system:

        (1)    applies only to a complete replacement of the piping; and

        (2)    does not apply to a repair or a partial replacement of the piping.