§ 7.5-127. Inspection and tests.

(1)

Scope. This section pertains to the inspection and testing of installed water lines requiring testing for assuring proper operation and service and/or specifically specified to be tested. In general, all lines designed to operate under pressure shall be successfully tested. Tests of installed piping shall consist of a pressure and leakage test. All piping to be tested must satisfactorily comply with the pressure tests before being eligible for acceptance. In general, tests shall be conducted in accordance with AWWA Standard C-600 except as otherwise herein specified.

(2)

Testing.

(a)

After all piping has been placed, each run shall be tested by the contractor in the presence of the inspector and tests shall be continued until all leaks have been made tight to the satisfaction of the inspector. The contractor shall furnish all necessary water, meters, pumps, gauges, bulkheads, and other materials and appliances necessary to conduct the test as herein required. Every precaution must be taken to valve-off or otherwise protect control equipment in or attached to the pipe line to prevent damage or injury thereto. All piping shall be tested at two hundred (200) psi for a minimum test duration of one (1) hour. The city or its representative may require a twenty-four-hour test if it so desires.

(b)

Before applying the specified test pressure, all air shall be expelled from the pipe. If hydrants, blow-offs or air release valves are not available at the high places, the contractor shall make the necessary taps, as per the standard detail for tap construction, at points of highest elevation before the test is made and close the corporation stop after the test has been completed.

(c)

Prior to the pressure test, pipe laid in trenches shall be backfilled adequately to secure the pipe during the test. Any observed leakage shall require corrective measures to pipe lines and/or joints as otherwise provided for in these specifications and to the satisfaction of the inspector. During the final pressure test the specified pressure shall be maintained in the pipe being tested for a minimum time of one (1) hour. Test pressure shall be maintained within five (5) psi of the specified test pressure for the duration of the test. Should the pressure drop more than five (5) psi at any time during the test period, the pressure shall be restored to the specified test pressure. An accurate pressure gauge with graduation not greater than five (5) psi shall be used.

(d)

The city will furnish the necessary water for testing the lines. However, any water lost through breakage of lines or unnecessary or excessive flushing of line will be charged to the contractor. Each valved section must be flushed and tested at a pressure of two hundred (200) psi for one (1) hour. Lines shall be tested in sections in a manner that assures testing of the tapping valve and all main line valves. When testing at the above specified pressures, the rate of leakage shall not exceed fifteen (15) gallons per twenty-four (24) hours per inch diameter per mile of line. See the table below.

Size of Pipe (in inches)	Leakage Tabulation Gallons/Hour /100 Feet	Gallons/Day /100 Feet
12	0.142	3.409
10	0.118	2.841
8	0.095	2.273
6	0.071	1.704

 

Any section of the line not meeting the above test shall have the leaks found and corrected at once and re-tested until the leakage falls within the limits specified above. Leakage shall be defined as the sum of the quantity of water that must be pumped into the test section to maintain the pressure within five (5) psi of the specified test pressure for the test duration plus water required to return the line to test pressure at the end of the test.

(e)

All fire hydrants shall be flushed to check operations.

(f)

All valves shall be located and operation checked.

(3)

Disinfection. After leakage testing, and all necessary repairs have been made, the lines shall be flushed clean and then disinfected in strict accordance with AWWA Standard For Disinfecting Water Mains, AWWA C651, latest revision subject to the following special conditions:

(a)

The method of disinfection shall be the continuous-feed method as follows:

1.

Apply chlorine solution to achieve a concentration of at least twenty-five (25) milligrams per liter free chlorine in new line. Retain chlorinated water for twenty-four (24) hours.

2.

Chlorine concentration shall be recorded at selected outlets along the line at the beginning and end of the twenty-four-hour period.

3.

After twenty-four (24) hours, all samples of water shall contain at least ten (10) milligrams per liter free chlorine. Re-chlorinate if results are not obtained on all samples.

(b)

The form of chlorine may be either: (1) a one (1) percent solution made from either sodium hypochlorite or calcium chlorine gas cylinder supplying a vacuum-type chlorinator, or (2) making a solution and pumping it into the pipeline.

(c)

The contractor shall dechlorinate the highly-chlorinated water being flushed from the pipeline or otherwise dispose of in a manner complying with state environmental regulations.

(d)

The developer shall be responsible for collecting bacteriological samples under city supervision. The city shall perform the initial bacteriological testing of water samples from the disinfected pipeline at no charge. The contractor shall be responsible for charges on all failed tests.

(e)

Before any flushing or disinfection work is begun, the contractor shall outline his planned procedures for these tasks and obtain approval of the city.

(4)

Contractor qualifications.

(a)

Licensing and safety. All contractors who work on water systems that will be owned by the city must be licensed in accordance with state law and local ordinance. Compliance with applicable safety regulations is the responsibility of each company engaged in the work; the city assumes no responsibility for the actions of others on the job site. It is the responsibility of those installing water mains and related appurtenances to conform to OSHA regulations, 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart P, Paragraph 1926.650 through 1926.653. Publications from OSHA can be obtained by contacting OSHA Publications Distribution, Washington, D.C.

(b)

Contractors performing water system installations must be approved by the city and should be completely familiar with the procedures and contract requirements associated with this type project.

(c)

Unsatisfactory work will cause a contractor not to be given a permit for future work.

(5)

Construction inspection.

(a)

Responsibility for inspection. The developer will be responsible for the quality, accuracy and workmanship of his completed work. City personnel will visit the job site on a periodic basis and will make spot checks as they deem appropriate. The city shall have the right to review and inspect all construction and may reject any work that does not meet quality control standards. The contractor shall leave trenches open at critical locations to allow visual inspection of fittings, valves and hydrants prior to backfilling. The city maintains the right to refuse performing inspections at unsafe worksites.

(b)

Access to project. Authorized representatives of the city, which may include city employees, the city, state or federal agencies, shall have access to the site for inspection at any time.

(c)

Communications during construction. All written communications regarding water construction shall be directed to the city water department. The developer shall be responsible for scheduling a preconstruction conference between their contractor and utilities and affected city departments prior to any construction activities.

After a preconstruction conference has been held the contractor will notify the city in writing two (2) days before starting construction. The contractor will provide notification by phone any time the work is to be vacated and will provide notice by phone prior to resuming work. The owner/developer shall request the final inspection in writing.

The city inspector may have informal verbal communications with the contractor foreman or superintendent at any time during construction. The city inspector will not direct the actions of contractor's workmen.

(d)

Concealed work. The contractor shall notify the city and receive inspection approval prior to concealing certain work such as valves, fittings, bends, tees, fire hydrants, pipe bedding, reaction blocking, lot services, or other appurtenances.

(e)

As-built drawings provided by design professional. As-built drawings will be provided and certified by the design professional who is employed by the developer. As-builts drawings shall be submitted showing the horizontal location of the mains, main size, valve, hydrant, and service line and meter location. Locations shall be referenced to a fixed landmark where necessary. Provide detail drawings of crossings with other utilities showing vertical and horizontal clearances.

(f)

Minimum testing. All costs for testing required by the city shall be paid for by the developer.

1.

Compaction of backfill. Compaction testing will be required for mains constructed in paved areas or where pavement is planned. A minimum of two (2) tests at each road crossing will be conducted at varying depths as fill is being placed. If any of these tests show failing results, then the failing backfill will be removed, re-compacted and re-tested, and one (1) additional area will be tested as well.

2.

Pressure and disinfection tests. Pressure and disinfection tests shall be observed until each test is passing.

(6)

Final inspection and conditional acceptance. Prior to final inspection of the water system the developer shall have previously completed the pressure and disinfection tests. After the developer makes written request for final inspection, the city will schedule a final inspection. The contractor and the developer will be present during this final inspection. This final inspection will generally include spot checks of hydrants, valves and other appurtenances and a complete overview of the project.

After any discrepancies are corrected and approved as built drawings are submitted, the city will issue a letter certifying conditional acceptance of the water system. This letter shall commence the start of the twelve-month warranty period which is required of the contractor. On projects having phased development, this letter will clearly identify portions of the project being accepted.

At the end of twelve (12) months, the subdivision inspection team will again reinspect the entire development. When all discrepancies have been corrected, the city will issue an acceptance letter and will begin perpetual maintenance and operation of the water system.

(7)

Maintenance bond or letter of credit. The developer shall post a maintenance bond or letter of credit of ten (10) percent of the total project cost on the facility for an eighteen-month period after completion and conditional acceptance of the facility by the city for all projects whose cost exceeds twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).

(8)

Maintenance until final acceptance. It shall be the developer's obligation to provide all maintenance for a twelve-month period after acceptance of the project by the city. At the end of the twelve-month maintenance period the city shall inspect the water system, and upon correction by the developer of all deficiencies noted by the city, the city will accept the water system for maintenance.

(Ord. No. 32-98, § 1, 8-27-98; Ord. No. 50-98, § 3, 1-7-99; Ord. No. 04-02, § 1, 1-3-02)