East Smithfield Water District

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EAST SMITHFIELD WATER DISTRICT

307 Waterman Avenue, Smithfield, RI 02917

 

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

For

INSTALLATION OF WATER MAINS

 

These specifications define minimum requirements and are not intended to supercede or replace existing recognized industry standards as published by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or others, nor are these specifications intended to supercede or replace any Federal, State, or local regulatory agency’s requirements.  The East Smithfield Water District reserves the right, through its authorized field staff, to require any combination of these specifications or any additional requirements needed, in their judgment, to insure a proper installation of water mains in a manner to protect the integrity of the potable water system.

 

Included as a part of this document by reference, as a representation only and not a definitive list, are the latest revisions to the following standards:

 

  • ANSI / AWWA  C600-99 AWWA Standard for Installation of Ductile-Iron Water Mains and their Appurtenances
  • ANSI / AWWA C651-99 AWWA Standard for Disinfecting Water Mains
  • ANSI / AWWA C153 / A21.53-00 American National Standard for Ductile-Iron Compact Fittings for Water Service
  • Other ANSI / AWWA Standards, latest revision, as appropriate
  • DIPRA Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Pipe, Revised 6-00
  • Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Public Drinking Water (R46-13-DWQ), State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Department of Health, January 2003
  • Sewer Line/Water Main Separation Policy for Design of Sanitary Sewers, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Department of Environmental Management, Division of Water Resources

 

Section 1.0 Materials

 

1.1    General:

All material is to be new, supplied by reputable manufacturers, and be approved for use by the East Smithfield Water District (ESWD).  Quality control documents are to be provided to the ESWD certifying that the materials conform to AWWA standards.  Shipping, delivery, storage and unloading practices shall be in conformance with all applicable standards.  Inspection of all materials is required before installation, and any damaged or defective parts will be rejected and must be removed from the site.  Storage of all material is to be done in a manner to prevent contamination from foreign matter.

 

1.2    Pipe:

All water mains shall be Class 52 Ductile Iron, cement lined, bituminous coated with “push-on” type joints and rubber gaskets and shall be in conformance with the latest AWWA standards.  Pipe shall be of the size approved by the East Smithfield Water District.  Pipes must be sealed to prevent contamination from foreign material.  Gaskets are to be stored out of direct sunlight, in their original packing, and protected from temperature extremes.  Lubrication material is to be food grade quality, kept in the original container and stored as per the manufacturer’s direction.

 

1.3    Valves and Boxes:

Valves shall be Mueller or U.S. Pipe Open Left with Mechanical Joints designed for a test pressure of 200 psi and shall be in conformance with the latest AWWA standards.  Valves 12” and larger must be “Butterfly Valves”.  Valves less than 12” shall be Gate Valves and may be double disc or resilient wedge type.  Valve Boxes shall be cast iron, two piece sliding type with a top flange and a minimum inside shaft diameter of 5-1/4” with the word “WATER” cast clearly in the cover.  Covers shall be the heavy, non-tilting 2” drop style recessed in the top to prevent plow breakage.  All Valves and Boxes shall be bituminous coated.

 

1.4    Fittings:

Fittings shall be Mechanical Joint ductile iron, cement lined, bituminous coated designed for a test pressure of 200 psi and shall be in conformance with the latest AWWA standards.  Fittings are to be stored in a clean, cool location.

 

1.5    Fire Hydrants:

Fire hydrants shall be Muellar Super Centurian 250 Open Left with a 5-1/4” valve opening and 5-1/2’ bury.  Color is to be the ESWD standard.

 

Section 2.0 Installation

 

2.1    General:

All connections to the existing water system must be approved by the ESWD Executive Board.  All construction plans must be approved by the ESWD prior to installation.  Roadway grade stakes and property line markers must be provided and maintained throughout construction in order to assure proper location and depth of water mains, fire hydrants and valves.  Proper separation from other utilities is the responsibility of the contractor.  Contractors and their employees must be experienced in the installation of water mains and may be required to supply adequate documentation to that effect.  All employees must be trained in OSHA Construction Safety and Health standards.  All workmanship, materials, and installation are subject to inspection and approval by the ESWD authorized field staff.  Installation of all material is to be done in a manner to prevent contamination from foreign matter.  The contractor is responsible for all applicable safety, health, and environmental regulations regarding the work.

 

2.2    Pipes

The inside of each length shall be inspected and free of any dirt or foreign material before the pipe is laid in the trench.  All lumps, burrs, excessive coatings and irregularities on the plain and socked ends of the pipe shall be removed.  Field cutting of sections is to be square and free of any butts or defects.  The plain end of cut sections is to be ground smooth and beveled when connecting to bell joints.  The outside of the plain end and the inside of the bell shall be wiped clean and dry prior to connection.  Pipe joints shall be properly lubricated for ease of installation with approved material supplied by the pipe manufacturer.  The lubricant is to be kept in sterile containers and is to be applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.  Care must be taken to prevent sand, dirt or foreign material from contaminating the lubricant during installation.  Under no circumstances are petroleum products to be used as a lubricant.

 

Pipes are to be installed in dry trenches with a minimum width of (diameter of pipe + 24) inches.  Trenches in rock or ledge must be a minimum of (diameter of pipe + 36) inches to allow for future excavation and repairs.  The top of pipe shall be a minimum of five (5) feet below finished grade and a maximum of seven (7) feet.  All trench installation is to conform to OSHA rules and regulations.  Pipe lengths shall have a minimum cushion of 6 inches of granular material consisting of sand or fine gravel (crushed stone where groundwater is encountered).  A minimum clearance of at least 12 inches is to be maintained around pipes, valves and fittings from rock, concrete, masonry or any underground obstructions.  Holes for bells shall be provided at each joint, no larger than necessary to allow joint assembly and to ensure that the pipe barrel lies flat on the trench bottom.

 

 

Timber headers are to be used between the pipe and jacks or excavator buckets when pushing the joints together to avoid damage to the pipe.  The pipe must be fitted with a temporary water-tight plug at the completion of installation of each section, at the end of day, and when the pipeline is left unattended.  Damage to the bituminous coating is to be repaired prior to backfilling.  Pipe is to be laid with the bells facing the direction of work.  Pipes are to be laid to the location and depth as shown on the approved plans.  Joint deflections are limited to 80% of the values specified in AWWA standard c600-99 Tables 3 and 4.  Polyethylene film encasement may be required in certain areas of corrosive soil and is to be installed in accordance with ANSI / AWWA C105 / A21.5.

 

A minimum horizontal separation of 5 feet from other utilities and 10 feet from sewer lines is to be maintained at all times.  Crossing of utilities is to be avoided wherever possible.  Sewers crossing under water mains are to maintain a minimum of 18 inches separation, or the sewer must be encased in ductile iron pipe or concrete for 10 feet each side of the crossing regardless of the separation.

 

2.3  Valves and Boxes:

All valves and boxes are to be inspected for defects, damage, and cleanliness prior to installation.  Valves shall be installed on a firm support such as concrete pads or crushed stone to avoid putting weight on the pipe.  Installation is to be plumb and true, at the locations as specified on the drawings.  Boxes are to be installed to final grade, centered over the operating nut of the valve and in a manner not to transfer traffic loads to the pipe or valve body.  Valves shall be installed after the pipe is fully supported and in final position to avoid stress on the fitting.  Damage to the bituminous coating is to be repaired prior to backfilling.  Restraint where necessary is to be provided by thrust blocks, threaded rods, restrained fittings, or a combination of methods according to field circumstances or as directed by ESWD authorized field staff.

 

2.4  Fittings:

All fitting are to be inspected for defects, damage, and cleanliness prior to installation.  The ends of the fittings and the gasket are to be washed with a soap solution to improve gasket seating.  Installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.  Mechanical joint fitting shall be provided to meet deflections in the pipeline that exceed 80% of the values specified in AWWA Standard C600-99 Tables 3 and 4.  Any bolts shall first be hand tightened prior to final alignment of the fitting.  Bolts on opposite sides of the flange are to be tightened alternately until reaching the final torque range.  All such fitting shall be adequately restrained by use of proper thrust blocks, threaded rods, restrained fittings, or a combination of methods according to field circumstances or as directed by ESWD authorized field staff.  Damage to the bituminous coating is to be repaired prior to backfilling.

 

2.5  Fire Hydrants:

All hydrants are to be inspected for defects, damage, and cleanliness prior to installation.  Hydrants are to be installed plumb so that the Break-Away flange is between 2 and 6 inches above final grade, centered 2-1/2’ behind the face curb, and positioned to provide easy access to the ports.  Hydrants must be installed on 6” branch lines of the water main with a 6” Mechanical Joint, Open Left valve and cast iron gate box.  Hydrants and valves must be secured to the water main by use of threaded rod and clamps, “Megalug”, other approved mechanical retainers, or a combination of methods as directed by ESWD authorized field staff.  An adequate thrust block must be provided at the back of the hydrant and the hydrant tee or tapping sleeve.  Crushed stone in a pit 2’ x 2’ x 2’ shall be placed at the hydrant base for proper drainage to at least 6 inches above the drain ports.

 

2.6  Restraint Systems:

More then one (full) length of pipe on each side of the fitting may require restraint.  Multiple fittings, short pipe lengths, poor soils, and high pressure areas may require additional restraint.  Thrust blocks are to be designed appropriately for the soils, pipe sizes, and pressures encountered at the job site and are to be installed square and plumb against undisturbed soil so that the joint itself, including any bolts, is accessible.  Concrete is to be a minimum strength of 2,000 psi and installed to industry standards.  Restrained joints are to be new, undamaged, from reputable manufacturers, conform to ANSI / AWWA C153, and be approved for use by the ESWD.  Tie rods may be used alone or in combination with other restraint systems and are to be installed as directed by the ESWD authorized field staff.  A protective bituminous coating is to be applied after installation and prior to backfilling.

 

2.7  Inspection and Backfilling:

All workmanship, materials and installation shall be subject to inspection and approval by ESWD authorized field staff.  No installation shall be backfilled prior to inspection.  The contractor will be required to uncover any installation backfilled without approval.

 

Damage to the bituminous coating of any installation is to be repaired prior to backfilling.  Trenches are to be backfilled and compacted by hand with selected granular material to a point above the top of the pipe, valve, of fitting to avoid damage to the installation.  The next twelve inches (12”) of backfill material are also to be select granular material, properly compacted.  The remainder of the backfill shall be free of stones greater than 8” suitably compacted with a minimum of 5’ of cover (maximum of 7’) to finished grade.  Final blacktop repairs shall be made as per the specifications of the governing authority.

 

The ESWD reserves the right to stop work on any water main installation for failure to abide by these standards until deficiencies have been corrected.

 

Section 3.0 Testing and Chlorination:

These specifications represent the minimum requirements for disinfection and activation of water mains.  Additional steps may be required due to field conditions and/or changes in regulatory standards.  Testing and chlorination of completed pipelines shall conform to the RI Department of Health regulations and ANSI / AWWA standard C651.  The ESWD requires that water mains be pressure tested at 150 psi. or 2x the working pressure, which ever value is greater.

 

ESWD authorized field staff shall oversee all testing and chlorination of water mains including the following steps:

 

·         Filling and flushing;

·         Backflow prevention;

·         Location and removal of taps;

·         Location and collection of bacteria samples;

·         Dechlorination and disposal of flushing water.

 

 

 

New mains shall be connected to the existing system with proper backflow prevention by taps or through a hydrant to allow flushing to remove any foreign materials and air pockets.  New water mains shall be pressure tested to 150 psi and must hold at 150 psi for a minimum of one hour without loss.  Upon approval of the pressure test, chlorination of the new main may be performed, using a minimum of  50 ppm chlorine concentration.  Chlorinated water must remain in the water mains a minimum of 24 hours.  After dechlorination the new mains must be filled with potable water and remain Undisturbed for 24 hours prior to sampling.  Taps must be sufficient to fill and flush the new main (refer to AWWA C651) and may be required to be isolated until all required bacteriological testing is satisfactorily completed.  At least one sample every 1,200 feet, at the beginning and end of the installation, and from each branch shall be taken.

 

ESWD authorized field staff shall take samples for bacteria analysis from designated locations and transport them to an approved laboratory following established chain of custody procedures.  The contractor is responsible for the cost of any additional testing.

 

Section 4.0 Miscellaneous:

4.1  Illegal operations:

Contractors are reminded that the only ESWD staff are allowed to operate active valves and hydrants.  Hydrants are not to be used for any purpose other than that specified or approved by the ESWD.  Any other such use is considered illegal and is considered a misdemeanor under Chapter 11-35 of the General Laws of RI and can result in a jail term of up to one year or a $ 1,000 fine.

 

4.2  Prior Notice of Work:

Contractors are to coordinate schedules with the ESWD and shall provide a minimum notice of five (5) working days prior to the start of any water main installations.  The ESWD reserves the right to limit construction to one development at the time due to staff limitations and may, at its option, require the delay of installation of water mains until other scheduled work is completed.  Contractors are expected to operate with adequate personnel and equipment to complete the work in a timely manner.

 

4.3  Additional Requirements:

The intent of these standards is to provide contractors a basic understanding of the requirements of the ESWD.  Any proposed connection to the potable water system must be approved by the Board of Water Commissioners.  The construction plans and drawings of water mains must be approved by the ESWD prior to installation.  The ESWD reserves the right during the approval process to require additional work not strictly related to the new construction if it provides a benefit to or strengthens the existing system.  Such work may include, as an example, increasing the size of proposed mains, additional sections of pipe to eliminate dead ends, installation of additional valves and/or hydrants, relocation of existing facilities, and granting of easements.  As described in the sections above, field conditions may also require additional work as identified by ESWD authorized field staff.  All fees are to be paid in advance.