Appendix B - Water and Sewer Service Line Construction Specifications
CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
EFFECTIVE: FEBRUARY 1, 2002
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Rules & Regulations
The applicant, contractor, and customer are responsible for knowledge and compliance with these provisions of the Rules & Regulations.
These provisions are developed to insure that the service line extension to the water distribution and sewage collection systems is constructed in a manner not to impact adversely the total system.
2. Scope
Service lines are constructed to provide the water or sewer link between the District main line distribution or collection system and the privately owned facility. The service line construction is paid for by the customer. Responsibility for maintenance and repair of water service lines is shared by the customer and the District. Sewer service lines are the property and responsibility of the customer.
3. Criteria
A separate and independent water and sewer service line shall be provided for every separately metered unit within a building. A curbstop shall be located at the property line or edge of easement on all water service lines. At least one water meter shall be installed for each separate building served. Multi-unit buildings may have individual unit curbstops, meters, and shut-off valves or may be serviced by a single curbstop and a master meter. Accessible valves for emergency water shut-off shall be provided for each unit. The District may authorize an exemption from the above requirements for buildings that are part of a condominium or homeowners' association. In such a case, the District shall bill the association for service charges assessed by the District for water and sewer usage in the association. In all cases where individual units are not separately metered, billing shall be to one entity for water and sewer service to all units serviced through the same meter or service line, and payment for less than all units shall be considered non-payment, allowing the District to terminate service.
4. Authorization and Permits
Prior to service line construction, the contractor shall familiarize themselves with the District standards and specifications. The customer or contractor shall obtain approval for the location of the service line and submit a copy of the building permit with information on the number and size of living units in the facility, appropriate sets of site and mechanical plans, and inform the District's personnel of intended schedule for construction. The District, in its sole discretion, has the authority to grant a variance from strict compliance with District specifications in the event of undue hardship, not self-imposed.
5. Taps and Tap Fees
Only District personnel or an authorized representative shall make taps onto the District's water or sewer mains.
Tap fees must be paid prior to connection of any tap.
6. Unauthorized Taps
Any change in use, conversion, or creation of additional units or connection of new structure made without payment of a tap fee will be considered an unauthorized tap connection. Refer to Section 4.3.3 Unauthorized Connection and Fees.
The occurrence of an unauthorized tap is subject to a penalty charge, as well as payment of the appropriate tap fee.
SERVICE CHARGES
Service charges begin as of the date of turn-on. The customer shall be responsible for payment of all fees and charges due the District.
7. Water Saving Devices
Water saving devices are required, consisting of shower restrictors and maximum 3.5-gallon flush toilets.
8. Inspections
The applicant for the sewer or water line service permit shall notify the District when the service is ready for inspection and connection to the main. Appointments for inspection and connection should be scheduled twenty-four (24) hours in advance.
All water service lines are to be tested under normal operating pressure. A sewer main connection shall be made by qualified personnel.
An open ditch inspection of all service lines shall be conducted by the District's representative. No service lines shall be covered without the District representative's approval. Anyone making any installation without such approval shall be required to remove all soil or any other covering over the service line to allow its inspection.
SEWER SERVICE LINES:
1. Customer's Responsibility
The entire sewer service line from the District main to the building belongs to the customer, and the customer is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the service line.
2. Service Line Separation
A ten-foot (10') separation must be maintained between parallel water and sewer service lines. At locations where water and sewer service lines cross, sewer service line joints within a ten-foot (10') distance of the water service line must be encased in accordance with the Colorado Department of Health standards.
3. Specifications
The sewer service lines shall be a minimum of four inches (4") ID PVC pipe with a minimum wall thickness meeting the SDR 35-thickness with preformed watertight joints with rubber gaskets. The sewer service line shall be watertight, on a constant minimum grade of not less than 1/4 inches (") per foot unless authorized by the District, in a straight line, and if running parallel to the building, no closer than ten feet (10') from the building. Two inches (2") of uniform graded bedding and six inches (6") of a uniform graded compacted cover are required in accordance with specifications.
4. Connection
The connection of the sewer service line to the main interceptor shall be made as follows:
a. If the service line is four inches (4") or six inches (6") in size, the District shall, at customer's expense, install a saddle on the sewer interceptor. The saddle tap will be located at least ten feet (10') away from any manhole. Connections into manholes will not be allowed.
b. If the service line is eight inches (8") or greater, the customer will make the connection into an existing manhole or install a new manhole at customer's expense. All connections shall be above the spring line.
5. Stubouts
When sewer service line stub outs are made in conjunction with or subsequent to main line construction, the end of the service line shall be plugged and marked by triangulation on individual lot plans. A copy of the lot plan shall be provided to the District for verification within a 48-hour period prior to covering the sewer service line stubout.
6. Inspection
Normal inspection of sewer service lines will be made with the service line not under pressure. Locations of sewer service lines must be recorded with the District. The District may allow, in lieu of inspections that the sewer line be pressure tested at the customer's expense. The water service shall be shut off or kept off until inspection or testing of the sewer service line is complete.
7. Floor Drains
Floor drains in industrial areas and garage drains will not be connected to the sanitary sewer without written permission from the District.
WATER SERVICE LINES:
1. Responsibility
The District is responsible for the maintenance of the water service line, up to and including the curb stop valve or the customer's property line or edge of easement, whichever is closer to the main. The customer is responsible for the maintenance of the remaining portion of the service line serving the property. The water meter is property of the District and the responsibility of the District to maintain.
2. Service Lines
All structures/metered accounts shall have one service line with one curb stop valve to be installed at property line for each application. The intent of this provision is to allow only one service line for all uses within the building including domestic water and fire suppression systems so that there is only one point outside of the building where water is terminated, which would be the curb stop valve itself. Within the mechanical rooms or meter area, the separation between the domestic water and fire suppression water systems will occur. This separation of the domestic water and fire suppression system will occur downstream of the curb stop valve for the single service line providing water service to the metered account. See Detail B-3, Service Line Meter Vault with Fire Line. The same orientation can occur within a meter pit, meter vault, or within the mechanical room of a building. Any variation from this standard will require written permission from both the local fire authority and the District.
a. Copper Tubing
Shall be Type K, ASTM B88. Connections are to be compression or silver-soldered. . No couplings shall be allowed from the main line to the curb stop. Service lines between the corporation stop and the curb stop (1 inch, 1-1/2 inches, and 2 inches only) shall be constructed of type "K" copper.
Type "K" copper service lines shall be inspected to ensure that they are free of all kinks, indentations, and/or damaged areas. Any damaged copper pipes or fittings shall be rejected by the District Inspector.
b. Polyethylene Tubing for Service Lines
May be used only in conjunction with a meter pit installation at property line. Polyethylene tubing may only be installed on the service side of the meter assembly contained within a meter pit installation.
Polyethylene water service lines shall be manufactured of high density 3408 material to the requirements of ASTM D2239 for SIDR pipe, and ASTM D2737 for Copper Tube Size pipe, meet AWWA C901 requirements and be NSF listed. All Polyethylene water service lines shall be approved by the District prior to construction.
c. Ductile Iron Pipe
Water service lines over 2-inches (2") shall be constructed of ductile iron.
d. Tracer Wire
10-gauge tracer wire is required to be installed from the curbstop to the outside of the building.
3. Service Line Separation
A ten-foot (10') horizontal separation shall be maintained between water and sewer lines if the water line is located 18-inches (18") or less above the sewer line, or the water line is at the same elevation or below the sewer line. If the water and sewer lines are within the required 10-foot (10') separation, the sewer line must meet the District's encasement criteria. If the sewer line is under the water line by a minimum distance of 18-inch (18") vertical separation and a horizontal separation of 3-feet (3'), sewer encasement is not required.
4. Alignment
Alignment of the water service line shall be located so as to take the shortest, most direct route, preferably perpendicular from the main to the building. No water service line shall be laid within ten feet (10') parallel to any weight-bearing wall which might be thereby weakened. The water service shall be laid at a uniform grade in a straight alignment.
5. Curbstop
The water service line shall have a curbstop control valve located at the property line or edge of easement, or as otherwise approved by the District with easy access to the District. Curbstops shall be in good operating condition at all times. Curbstop valve box tops must be Mueller Buffalo Pattern, accessible at ground surface. Dry ice shall be used when making repairs to a curbstop valve. Service line constructed of ductile iron material will require curbstop to be located at the tee on the main line.
6. Stubout
When water service lines are stubbed out from the water main to property lines, the stubout shall be valved off and plugged, with a valve box the top of which is installed at the ground surface. A water service line stubout shall be marked by triangulation on individual lot plans. A copy of the lot plan shall be provided to the District for verification within a 48-hour period prior to covering the water service line stubout.
Service lines will be stubbed out to lots where installation of such service line stubouts will reduce the need for road cuts with the appropriate number of separate service lines or service lines to adequately serve the specific lot.
7. Specifications
Water service lines shall be constructed with type K copper up to two inches (2"); service lines larger than two inches (2") shall be constructed with ductile iron pipe (DIP). Service lines shall be a minimum of 1-inch (1") in diameter. Water service lines shall be buried at least seven feet (7') with two-inch (2") uniform graded bedding and six-inch (6") uniform graded compacted cover. Polybutyl pipe for a customer's service line will be allowed after a meter pit which is located at the property line. No District line or line prior to a meter will be installed with polybutyl pipe.
The service line shall be one continuous line with no joints. No splices shall be installed between the curbstop and the main. No lead-soldered fittings shall be allowed. All copper connections must be compression joints, or silver-soldered joints.
Service line bedding material shall consist of 3/8-inch or 3/4-inch minus screened rock material.
8. Taps and Inspection
District personnel will make all taps up to two inches (2"). All taps larger than two inches (2") will be made by an approved contractor and inspected by District personnel. The District will record the actual location and depth of water service lines.
Under supervision of the District representative, the water service line is to be pressure tested at normal operating pressure from the water main to the building before backfill begins.
Taps made after November 15 and before April 15 must have a heated tapping area provided. 24-hours advance notice must be given to the District prior to tapping.
9. Pressure Reducing Valves
A pressure-reducing valve (PRV) shall be installed in all service lines upstream of the water meter, ensuring that the water meter and the building plumbing system, including any fire sprinkler system, are protected from fluctuating water main pressures. Variance requests to remove the PRV from a fire sprinkler system may be allowed with written authorization from the District. The pressure setting of the PRV shall not exceed 200 psi without written permission from the District.
10. Shutoff Valves
The contractor will install shutoff valves prior to the PRV and after the spool/water meter to facilitate future repairs.
11. Backflow Prevention Device
Backflow prevention devices are required on all facilities where specified by the local plumbing official or the Colorado Department of Health. All devices will be inspected and certified as working properly every year by a certified tester.
12. Water Meter and Remotes
All services are required to have a Sensus water meter with Electronic Communication Register (ECR) and touch-read pad and must conform with AWWA C700 Standard for Cold-Water Meters-Displacement Type, C701 Standard for Cold-Water Meters-Turbine Type, and C702 Standard for Cold Water Meters-Compound Type is required. Meter is to be Displacement Type (DT), Turbine Type (TT), or Compound Type (CT) as listed below.
(1) Residential or commercial service, 1-1/2 inches and two inches (2"), DT, Sensus SR
(2) Residential or commercial service, 3/4 inch, and one inch (1"), DT, Sensus SR II
(3) Irrigation only or Master Meter service, TT, Sensus Series "W"
(4) Commercial service, two-inch (2") and above, CT, Sensus High Performance SRH
(5) Meter Type will be determined by the District
(6) Meter Size will be determined by the District
The District shall inspect the installation of all water meters. The cost of the meter shall be borne by the customer.
The contractor or customer will be provided three-strand wire for installation of a touch-read pad. Prior to meter installation and water turn-on, the customer shall install the wire from the meter location to an appropriate site. Touch-read pad will be located within 24 inches (24") from the electrical meter, five feet (5') above ground in an accessible location free from snow that will provide year-round access for the meter reader. The maximum remote distance from the meter shall be five hundred feet (500').
All meters must be bronze bodied, Sensus SRII, with touch-read pad. A Sensus Meter Transceiver Unit and MXU Mounting Bracket must be attached to the exterior of the building, immediately adjacent to the touch-read pad. The MXU provides for automated meter reading capability. When a meter, transceiver unit and mounting bracket are purchased from the District, the contractor or customer will perform an installation in a horizontal position. All meter installations must be in a freeze-proof, convenient, and easily accessible area. Meter installation shall be no higher than three (3) feet above and no lower than six (6) inches above the floor level in a horizontal position. If the meter is currently located in a crawl space, the meter shall be located within three (3') feet of the access entry. Variances will be considered on a case-by-case basis from the District prior to the installation of the meter.
The contractor is responsible to protect the meter from freezing or other physical damage during construction. After completion of the construction and acceptance by the customer, the customer is responsible to protect the meter from freezing, from damage due to high water pressure (i.e., PRV), and other physical damage.
Water will remain turned off at the curbstop until the water meter is installed, inspected and approved, and all tap fees are paid in full. All water is to be metered, including construction water.
The District will install the meter and connect the touch-read pad upon request. A scheduled appointment for installation must occur with District personnel 48-hours in advance.
All commercials meters are required to install a bypass line around the meter. The bypass line will be unmetered and secured with a District padlock.
13. Water Turn-On
Water service is turned on and billing begins when the meter is installed.
Water turn-on will be made by District personnel only. Any water service turned on by other than authorized personnel shall be considered illegal system tampering and subject to fees and penalties.
14. Meter Pits
Meter pits shall be adequately sized to contain the meter assembly and allow maintenance to the assembly. Meter pits shall be installed at the property line or the edge of easement, on the service side of the curb stop valve.
a. Mueller/Hunt Thermal Coil Meter Box: Recommended installation for 5/8", 3/4" and 1" meter applications.
b. Meters 1 1/2" or Larger: Will be required to be installed in a concrete manhole meter pit.
c. Manhole Bases: Precast concrete, ASTM C478, Armorcast 48" x 84" Deep Vault System or District approved equivalent.
d. Manhole Sections: ASTM C478. Precast concrete (wetcast) with the lip outside, low end down, Armorcast 48" x 84" Deep Vault System or District approved equivalent. Concrete cones shall be eccentric.
e. Manhole Rings and Covers: (For ROW installations) Cast iron, ASTM A48 with a flat lid with the lettering "WATER" cast on the cover. Ring and cover combined weight is to be greater than 255 pounds and machined to fit securely with a non-rocking cover. Waffle pattern hot dipped in asphalt. HS-20 traffic loading. D&L A1043 or accepted equal.
f. Manhole Steps: (Concrete Only) Two non-skid grooves in surface of step and capable of carrying load of 1,000 pounds, six inches (6") from face of manhole. The steps shall meet industry standards or equal and be plastic coated.
g. Manhole Joint Sealant: Double Rub-R-Neck with primer. One inch (1") on 48-inch diameter manholes; 1-1/2 inch on all larger sizes.
15. Repairs to Service Line
Repairs to service line between the corporation stop and the curb stop that require couplings shall be made only by the use of silver-soldered coupling or compression coupling, and shall be inspected and approved by the District.
DRAWINGS:
Service Line Meter Vault (1-Inch and Smaller)
Service Line Meter Vault (1 - 1 1/2 Inch and Larger)
Service Line Meter Vault with Fire Line
Sewer Clean-Out