OLGA WATER USERS, INC.

 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND

 WATER MAIN EXTENSION

 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

Olga Water Users, Inc.

P.O. Box 44

Olga, WA  98279

These Design & Construction Standards and the accompanying Standard Details are intended to assist project owners and engineers in understanding the requirements and preferences of Olga Water Users (OWU) in the design and construction of water main extensions.  The design of other types of improvement projects shall adhere to Washington State Department of Health standards and guidelines and the requirements of WAC 246-290.  These standards are intended as guidelines and NOT SPECIFICATIONS; therefore, the legal responsibility for project document preparation shall continue to reside with the Design Professional. Engineers shall contact OWU prior to design completion to discuss the project and to determine any specific requirements that pertain to the work. 

A. Design Standards and Requirements

1. Submittal Requirements 

A project report, construction drawings and technical specifications for water main extension projects shall be submitted to Doe Bay Water Users Association (OWU) by an engineer, licensed in Washington State.  The report and drawings will be reviewed by OWU to insure conformance with Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) and local requirements. Construction may not begin until the submitted documents are approved by OWU. Project reports are not required for all distribution system projects. Refer to WAC 246-290-125 for submittal exceptions.

The project report, construction drawings and technical specifications shall include:

a.         A narrative discussion documenting the availability of adequate source and storage to serve the proposed service area including a summary of the hydraulic analysis for the proposed system expansion and the effect on the existing system.

b.         The identification and description of proposed land use within the project area.

c.         A hydraulic analysis, which demonstrates the ability of the project to supply 30 psi during peak flows (peak hourly demand PHD). The analysis should include a narrative discussion that describes the hydraulic analysis method, explains critical assumptions, and summarizes the effect of the proposed expansion on the existing system. OWU maintains a hydraulic computer model of the water system. Contact OWU for additional information or to run the model.  A fee will be assessed for model runs. 

d.         A service area map designating specific properties to be served.

e.         A distribution system map showing location of water lines, sizes, type of pipe, pressure zones, easements, and location of critical control valves. 

f.          The specifications for materials, construction, depth of pipe, pressure and leakage testing, and disinfection in accordance with these and other standards referenced herein.

g.         Detailed drawings for service connections, air and vacuum relief valves, bury, pressure reducing valves, thrust blocking or restraint systems, backflow assemblies, fire hydrants, and other system appurtenances. Reference to the OWU Standard Details is acceptable where applicable. 

Review fees will be assessed and must be received as a condition of approval. 

2. General Requirements

a.         Detailed plans and specifications shall be prepared by a professional engineer (P.E.) licensed in the State of Washington (hereinafter, the project engineer) and warranted by same to be in accordance with these Design and Construction standards, all applicable rules, regulations, laws and ordinances and that the plans and specifications are in accordance with good engineering practices, standards, and criteria. The project engineer shall act on behalf of the project owner in furnishing the necessary statements and completion records as stipulated by OWU. The plans and specifications shall be submitted to OWU for review and approval and may also be required to be submitted to the WSDOH for review and approval. Appropriate fees will be charged to the project owner for the review and approval process.

b.         No construction, installation, removal, connection to, or alteration of the OWU system shall occur until approval from OWU has been granted both as to the plans and specifications and any other matter related to the project. Approval by OWU does not constitute a warrant that plans, specifications, or other requirements are in complete conformance to these Design and Construction standards. Any deficiencies discovered in the course of construction or project approval are the sole responsibility of the project owner to correct. 

c.         Once approved, no deviation from the plans and specifications shall occur without the prior written approval of the project engineer and either the OWU General Manager or OWU’s engineer. Approved “as-built” changes are to be documented with copies to OWU staff. OWU through their engineer shall provide construction observation to ensure conformance with the approved plans and specifications.  The contractor shall notify the engineer after pipe assembly is complete and prior to burial so the work can be inspected.  The work will not be accepted unless it has been inspected and approved by the engineer. A fee will be charged for this service. However OWU reserves the right to require that the project owner’s engineer provide this function. In that case the owner’s engineer shall observe the work periodically during construction to insure conformance with the approved plans and specifications. Further it is the engineer’s responsibility to keep appropriate, complete, proper and accurate records during the course of the project to insure that all necessary reports, records, results, and documentation can be provided to OWU. 

d.         When the owner’s engineer provides construction observation, OWU will also periodically inspect the work.  Notification prior to burial is required and work that has not been approved by OWU will not be accepted.  The inspector will advise the project owner or owner’s representative when, in the inspector’s opinion, the work does not conform to the plans and specifications, but will in no way take control of the project owner’s work. The OWU inspector is not responsible for collecting information required by the project engineer for the preparation of the engineer’s report. 

e.         The project owner shall furnish all permits, insurance, bonds, materials, labor, tools, easements, and equipment required for the safe, efficient, and orderly excavating, installation, backfilling, testing, recordkeeping, and site restoration of the work called for in the plans and specifications.

f.          The owners of a proposed project are considered to be solely responsible for adherence to these standards. The owner may delegate the work to an engineer or a contractor or an agent who will be considered by OWU to be acting on behalf of the owner.

g.         These standards are considered to be a part of any contract, oral or written, between OWU and the project owner. Implementation of the project by the owner constitutes explicit acceptance of the terms, conditions, and provisions herein.

h.         If any conflict exists between these Design and Construction standards and any other referenced standard, the more restrictive requirement shall govern. If there is an irresolvable conflict, the project owner or project engineer may apply for a waiver from these standards. Waivers to these standards are only valid if provided in writing from OWU. Any water main specifications that OWU provides to the owner as part of the plan review are considered a part of these Design and Construction standards. 

i.          Project owner shall contact utilities in the project area at least 48 hours in advance of work to obtain mark outs and conditions of work. 

j.          All salvageable water system materials provided by OWU shall be turned over to OWU at a location so specified by OWU.

k.         The project owner may be required to furnish a surety bond or bonds covering the faithful performance of the work. A performance bond may be required to insure the adequate performance of the work and to guarantee payment of any and all liability of any type, kind, nature, and description due as a result of the owner’s work throughout the warranty period. 

l.          If, in OWU’s sole judgment, the owner should neglect to prosecute the work properly or fail to meet provisions of these standards or any other condition required by OWU, OWU may, without prejudice to any other remedy that it may have, make good such deficiencies and may assess the cost thereof as a charge against the owner to be paid prior to approval of the project. Normally five (5) days written notice will be provided to the owner unless the health, safety, or welfare of others is compromised and, in the sole judgment of OWU, such remedy requires immediate response. Any incidental damage or delay resulting from OWU’s right to do the work shall not become a charge against OWU.

m.        The project engineer shall provide written certification as to all matters required by OWU including, without limitation, certifications that the modifications to the water system have been installed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, that as installed they meet these Design and Construction standards, all applicable rules, regulations, laws and requirements and that the system has been tested and found to be in good operating order free from defects. All required documentation including WSDOH Construction Completion Report, WSDOH Pressure, Leakage and Bacteriological Test Report, construction progress reports, as-built records and any other report required by OWU and/or the WSDOH shall be provided by the project engineer and certified as accurate and true.

n.         Water service to the project will not be provided by OWU until all required documentation has been received and accepted, outstanding charges by OWU have been paid, proof of lien releases supplied, membership requirements, if applicable, have been satisfied, and the works accepted by OWU.

o.         The project owner shall dedicate the approved and completed works to OWU if required as condition of service. OWU will be the sole operator of the works thereafter. Ownership of the works automatically transfers to OWU after one year from the date of acceptance by OWU. The owner is liable for one year from the date of acceptance for the warranty of all charges for repairs of defects that may be discovered. The owner will be given an opportunity to promptly make such repairs in accordance with OWU standards, prior to OWU making the repairs unless such a provision would unduly threaten the integrity of the system. A performance bond, at the sole discretion of OWU, may be required to insure conformance with this rule. Failure by the owner to uphold this warranty provision will result in the suspension of service and ownership transfer by OWU. 

p.         A project will be considered as being complete and ready for service when:

i.          The engineer submits and certifies that the work was constructed in accordance with all applicable standards and the submitted plans and specifications.  

ii.         The engineer submits and certifies to be true the results of construction inspection tests including flushing, pressure tests, disinfection, and water quality sampling.

iii.        The engineer submits and certifies to be true an accurate “as-built” drawing that identifies the actual infrastructure that was installed including all modifications to the approved plans and specifications. 

iv.        The engineer completes and submits to OWU the WSDOH Construction Completion Report, WSDOH Pressure, Leakage and Bacteriological Test Report. Both forms are included at the end of these Standards.

v.         All punch-list items generated by OWU.

vi.        Payment of all fees and charges rendered to the project owner. 

vii.       Completion of all conditions identified by OWU including the posting of required performance bonds.

viii.      An offer of dedication of all appropriate infrastructures has been tendered by the owner and accepted by OWU if such an offer is specified by OWU. 

3. Design Standards 

a.         All work, material, methods, plans and specifications shall conform to the current Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Health regarding Public Water Supplies, Chapter 246-290 Washington Administrative Code (Group A Public Health Water System Regulations). Also the current edition of the WSDOH Water System Design Manual will be used as the basis for design and performance approval. 

b.         It is the responsibility of project owners to perform work, supply materials, and undertake methods to insure compliance with applicable standards. However, if an OWU plan or specification differs from these standards, the provisions of the OWU plan or specification shall govern. 

c.         OWU system design information and requirements:

i.          Average day Demand (ADD) = 190 gallons per day per ERU

ii.         Maximum day demand (MDD) = 320 gallons per day per ERU. 

iii.        Minimum pressure = 30 psi during peak hour demand (PHD) at the property line.

iv.        Minimum pipe size = 6-inch diameter unless hydraulic calculations show conformance with minimum standards using smaller pipe.

v.         Maximum water velocity = 8 feet per second

vi.        Minimum service line diameter = ¾ inch for single residence, 1-inch for dual residence line. Lines may be larger for longer runs or for services to commercial and multi-family uses. See Standard Details for construction details.

d.         Valves should be located on the outlets of all tees where mains intersect and otherwise such that an interruption will not affect more than 500 feet of mains in commercial districts or 1,000 feet of mains in residential districts. Obtain OWU approval for all valve locations prior to construction. 

e.         OWU provides sufficient pressure and flow to meet domestic needs for all existing parcels with active service connections. This condition may not apply to all parcels within the retail service area. Where minimum pressure and flow requirements cannot be met project owners are encouraged to discuss their needs with OWU. In general OWU policy requires that project owners bear all costs associated with increasing flow and/or pressure levels, including that needed for fire suppression.  

f.          Distribution valve and fire hydrant spacing. Distribution valves are located at street intersections where mains intersect and otherwise so that no more than 500 ft. of mains in commercial districts or 1,000 ft. of main in residential areas will be affected by service disruptions. Hydrants are located so that no hydrant is more than 1,000 road-feet from a new home. This standard may be adjusted to insure that a hydrant is placed at the end of a dead-end main, near intersecting mains or otherwise to improve system maintenance or facilitate fire-fighting efforts. Hydrant locations are subject to review by the San Juan County Fire Marshal.

g.         Water main connections to existing water mains shall be made by the hot-tap method unless specifically approved by OWU. A specialty company shall make taps acceptable to OWU.

h.         Water mains should maintain ten (10) feet horizontal and 18-inch vertical separation from sewer mains and five (5) feet horizontal and 6-inch vertical separation from other non-potable water mains such as storm drains.  If site conditions do not allow this, then design variances should follow the Washington State Department of Ecology’s manual titled Criteria for Sewage Works Design. 

i.          Water system mains should be looped to improve circulation and achieve redundancy whenever feasible. OWU reserves the right to require that mains serving more than 20 memberships be looped if reasonably feasible. 

j.          Mechanical joint restraint shall be used instead of concrete thrust blocks wherever feasible and practical. 

k.         Service tap connections to existing mains shall be made by the hot-tap method. A specialty company shall make taps larger than 2” diameter acceptable to OWU.

l.          Service meter, air/vac, and double check valve boxes shall be located in areas that are not prone to flooding. Discuss location of all proposed underground boxes with OWU prior to completing the design. 

m.        To support sprinkler system design contact OWU for pressure and flow measurements at nearest hydrant. A charge for this service will be assessed. Contact OWU for current rate.

n.         Provide State approved backflow prevention device and service meters for all sprinkler system services. See Standard Details for reduced pressure and double check valve backflow prevention device construction details.

B. Construction Standards

1. Materials 

a.         Water main pipe shall conform to American Water Works Association (AWWA) C900 specifications for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with a minimum wall thickness of DR18 (class 150). Schedule 80 PVC pipe may be used on water mains smaller than 4-inch diameter. HDPE pipe with a minimum wall thickness of SDR 11 (class 160) is also allowed. 

b.         Ductile iron spools and pipe shall be Standard Thickness Class 51 except Class 52 as noted for fire hydrant laterals. 

c.         Ductile Iron Mechanical Joint (MJ) fittings shall be manufactured in accordance with American National Standards Institute/AWWA (ANSI/AWWA) C153/A21.53 and ANSI/AWWA C111/A21.11 and shall be rated for water pressure of 250 psi. 

d.         Ductile Iron compact Flanged (FL) fittings shall be manufactured in accordance with ANSI/AWWA C110/A21.10 and shall be rated for water pressure of 250 psi.  Flanged surface shall be faced and drilled in accordance with ANSI class 125 B16.1.  

e.         No galvanized or schedule 40 pipe or fittings are to be used in the system. Additionally OWU will not allow service extensions from galvanized or schedule 40 pipes.  

f.          Combination air/vacuum - air release valves (ARV) shall be Val-matic Model 201C.2 with an isolation valve installed between the main and the ARV. The ARV shall be placed at the high point of the line. See Standard Details for ARV construction details.

g.         Fire hydrants shall be Watrous Pacer hydrants (Model WB-67-250) meeting the latest revision of AWWA standard C-502. Inlet shall be six (6”) size and MJ. Outlets shall be two (2) 2 ½” and one (1) 4 ½” National Standard Thread (NST). See Standard Details for fire hydrant construction details.

h.         Joint restraint devices shall be Ford Uni-Flange BlockBusters or ROMAC Grip Ring pipe restrainer. 

i.          Hydrant gate (i.e. guard) valves shall be resilient wedge design, have ductile iron bodies, and have a minimum pressure rating of 200 psi. A cast iron valve box shall be included with each gate valve and shall be adjusted to final ground level upon completion of the project. See Standard Details for valve box details.

j.          Water meters for single-family homes shall be disc type 5/8” X 3/4” Badgermeter model 25 with gallon registration. See Standard Details for water service construction details.

k.         Meter setters shall be Ford Meter Box Co. “Coppersetters” with compression inlet and outlets for polyethylene (PE) pipe. The shutoff will have a locking collar. The setter will include a check valve.

l.          Corporation stops will be bronze with male iron pipe size (IPS) threads on inlet and outlet.  

m.        Service saddles will be bronze or stainless steel, double-strapped or band-aid type, sized for C900 PVC pipe, IPS tapped. 

n.         Service pipe shall be high-density polyethylene, ¾” minimum, 200 psi working pressure conforming to ANSI/AWWA C901, AWWA Standard for PE Pressure Pipe and Tubing. Connections to corporation stop and the meter setter, and couplings will be by brass compression fittings, IPS thread. Type K copper tubing will be required wherever a risk of permeation by organic solvents or petroleum products exists.

o.         Meter boxes shall be of a high density plastic with a reader lid or a prefabricated concrete box made by Fog Tite for the specific purpose of housing meters with a cast iron lid. Meter boxes shall be able to sustain expected traffic load. 

p.         All fittings will be of bronze, municipal grade quality.

2. Workmanship 

a.         Trenching. All trenches shall be excavated to the lines and grades specified on the drawings and established in the field by the project engineer. If the bottom of any excavation is taken out beyond the limit indicated or prescribed, the resulting void shall be backfilled with thoroughly compacted run-of-bank gravel. All trenches shall be braced and shored as necessary to meet WISHA standards. The width of the trench shall be made as narrow as practicable consistent with efficient handling and lying of the material. The sides of the trenches, between the horizontal center of the pipe and an elevation of one (1) foot above the top of the pipe shall be vertical. The depth of the trench shall be sufficient to provide a cover over the top of the pipe of at least two feet six inches (2’-6”) plus the necessary depth for the laying of the pipe and pipe bedding. The top cover shall be determined after all finish grading of lawns and roadways have been completed. OWU requires three feet (3’-0”) cover in roadways. See Standard Details for standard trench section.

The trench, or section of trench being excavated, shall be kept free from water during the time pipe joints are being made. Bell holes shall be provided at each joint to permit the joint to be made properly. 

If, in the opinion of the project engineer, material unsuitable for foundation is found at or below the grade to which excavation would normally be carried in accordance with the plans and specifications, such material shall be removed to the required width and depth and replaced with thoroughly compacted bank-run gravel. 

b.         Rock Excavation.  Should rock be encountered, the trenches shall be excavated such that the clearance between the pipe and remaining rock will be not less than six (6) inches in every direction after the pipe has been laid. Rock shall be excavated to the lines and grades indicated on the drawing or as directed by the project engineer. Following excavation and before placement of the pipe, the trench shall be backfilled to the correct subgrade with a minimum thickness of six (6) inches of thoroughly compacted suitable material.  

If blasting is required to loosen any rock encountered, all permits shall be obtained from the appropriate agencies in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Labor and Industries concerning excavation and discharge of explosives. Appropriate insurance coverage shall be in effect.

c.         Installation of Pipe and Appurtenances. Care shall be taken in handling pipe to prevent damage to the pipe. All pipes shall be carefully examined for defects and no pipe shall be laid which is known to be defective. If any defective pipes shall be discovered after having been laid, they shall be removed and replaced with sound pipes. 

The bottom of the trench shall be finished to a uniform grade. Pipe shall be laid true to line without objectionable breaks in grade and shall have a firm bearing for the entire length of the pipe. 

All interior surfaces of pipes shall be thoroughly cleaned before they are laid and shall be kept clean until accepted by the project engineer. Bell and spigot ends and other pipe surfaces involved in making joints shall also be thoroughly cleaned prior to making joints. 

Suitable watertight end caps or plugs shall be used for capping the ends of pipe when pipe lying is not actually in progress. Materials such as burlap, canvas, or plywood will not be acceptable for this purpose. Water standing in the trench when work is resumed shall be pumped out prior to removal of a cap or plug. 

d.         Installation of PVC Pipe.  Installation of PVC pipe shall follow the methods described in the Handbook of Plastic Pipe as published by the Uni-Bell Plastic Pipe Association. 

e.         Installation of Mechanical Joints. The joint gasket and surfaces against which the gasket will come in contact shall be thoroughly cleaned prior to assembly of the joint. The gasket, bell, and spigot shall be lubricated with a thin film of non-toxic gasket lubricant approved for potable water systems. The gland and gasket, in that order, shall be slipped over the spigot, and the spigot shall be inserted into the bell until it is correctly seated. The gasket shall then be seated evenly in the bell at all points, centering the spigot, and the gland shall be pressed firmly against the gasket. After all bolts have been inserted and the nuts have been made up finger tight, diametrically opposite nuts shall be progressively and uniformly tightened all around the joint to the proper tension by means of a torque wrench. The correct range of torque as indicated by a torque wrench shall fall into the range of 60-90 ft./lbs.  

If effective sealing of the joint is not obtained at the maximum torque indicated above, the joint shall be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned, then reassembled. Bolts shall not be overstressed to tighten a leaking joint.

f.          Installation of Valves and Valve Boxes. Unless otherwise directed by OWU, all gate valves shall be set with their stems truly vertical. The valves shall be joined to the pipeline with mechanical joints unless directly attached to tees or other fittings. The tops of the valve boxes shall be set neatly to the final grade of the street or the ground. The valve boxes shall be set so there is a uniform space around the operating nut, and the sides of the valve box shall be parallel to the axis of the stem of the valve. See Standard Details for construction details.

g.         Installation of Hydrants and Branches. The hydrant shall be set vertical at proper elevation and braced in position. An 18” X 18”X 4” solid concrete building block or equivalent as approved by OWU shall be placed under the base of the hydrant for support. If the block is placed on disturbed soil or backfill gravel, the support material shall be thoroughly tamped to prevent settlement of the hydrant. A gravel pocket shall be placed around the base of the hydrant sufficient to insure proper drainage of the hydrant. The drainage pocket shall be isolated from the surrounding soil with geotextile fabric properly secured in a way to minimize plugging of the drain pocket.

The excavation for the hydrant shall end sufficiently below the base of the hydrant to allow for setting of the support block and gravel drain bed. The hydrant shall be firmly set on the support block. The hydrant, guard valve, and branch shall be installed and secured with an approved restraint system. The hydrant gate valve shall be set no closer than two feet from the hydrant’s pumper nozzle.

Hydrants shall be set truly vertical and plumb, and hydrants shall be flushed out after being set to insure that branch valves are fully open and the hydrants close and drain properly. Hydrant laterals shall be constructed perpendicular to the water main alignment. Where the water main is in a roadway or street the hydrant lateral shall be constructed perpendicular to the pavement centerline.  Hydrants shall be placed so that there is three (3) feet of unobstructed area around the hydrant with unimpeded access from the street approach. 

Hydrants must be braced just below grade with a concrete pad or pressure treated lumber to insure the correct operation of traffic breakaway flanges, bolts, and stem couplings. 

The project owner shall be responsible for painting each hydrant following installation and cleanup with one coat of finish paint in the color approved by OWU. The paint shall be applied after all loose scale, rust, dirt, grease, and other foreign matter has been removed completely from the hydrant.

h.         Installation of Services. Unless directed otherwise by OWU, services shall be installed from the main to the right-of-way (ROW) line with meter boxes being placed on the ROW line.  The service pipe shall rest firmly on undisturbed soil or compacted backfill but in no case shall it be in contact with rock. Services that cross streets where pavement is in place shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the pavement owner. All excavations, both in and out of pavement, shall be properly compacted to eliminate future settlement. There shall be a minimum of two (2) feet six (6) inches of cover over all portions of the service pipe as measured from final grade. Service lines shall run straight at a 90 angle from the main to the meter box. Caution should be exercised to prevent ground or surface water from following the service line trench and flooding the meter box. Clay dams, weeper pipes, or grading should be employed to manage drainage water.

A meter service with roadway crossing shall be installed in a rigid conduit compatible with the service line material. The conduit shall be sufficiently large to allow removal and replacement of the service line without disturbance of the roadway.  No couplings will be installed on service pipes within roadways.

Type K copper tubing will be required wherever a risk of permeation by organic solvents or petroleum products exists. 

Taps shall be made within 45 of horizontal on the pipe. 

Obtain OWU approval of all meter box locations prior to construction. Meter boxes will not be set within five (5) feet of a ditch line. No meter boxes shall be installed in parking lots, driveways, or roadways unless they are installed in a traffic-proof vault. Meter boxes will be set flush all around with final grade and shall be staked by the contractor to avoid subsequent damage by equipment. No meter box shall be set in a location that drainage would submerge the meter connections or sediment will infiltrate the box. Meters will be set so the reading dial is 9 inches below the top of the meter box. Meter boxes will be made frost proof.

Before any portion of the service line is buried, an OWU inspector shall observe a pressure test of at least 30 minutes duration using available water pressure. When service lines are constructed, as part of a water main extension then the service lines shall be flushed, disinfected and pressure tested along with the main. 

Service line taps, service lines, and meter boxes are to be measured and included on the as-built record submitted by the project engineer.

i.          Backfilling. In general, and unless other material is indicated on the plans and specifications or these standards, material used for backfilling trenches shall be suitable material free from cinders, ashes, refuse, organic matter, frozen material, or stones or rock over eight (8) inches in greatest dimension. 

The backfill material in the zone around the pipe shall be sand. There shall be six (6) inches of sand bedding around the pipe in every direction. This material shall be placed in layers not to exceed six (6) inches in depth and shall be thoroughly tamped with approved hand or power tampers specifically designed for this type of work. Hand tamping by means of lumber, picks, shovels or their handles will not be accepted. 

Special care shall be taken in placing this portion of the backfill to avoid damage to the pipe. 

All underground water mains and service lines shall be marked with detectable, metallized, 2” wide tape bearing the words “Water Line Below” or equivalent. The tape shall be placed 18” above the water line. 

Backfill in Non-Road Areas: For trenches not in roadways, the remainder of the trench from six (6) inches above the pipe may be filled with approved materials obtained from the trench excavation. This may be done in one operation by filling in the entire trench and compacting the backfill by rolling with construction equipment, leaving the fill mounded over the trench.  The project owner shall correct excess or deficient fill after a suitable period of time.  Prior to acceptance the project owner shall restore the area to its original appearance or better. In unimproved areas the disturbed area shall be reseeded using a suitable seed mixture. 

Backfill in Road Areas: Where excavations are made through existing permanent highway or street pavements, their shoulder areas, curbs, driveways, or sidewalks, backfilling shall conform to the current requirements of the particular agency having jurisdiction. Project owners are specifically referred to San Juan County Public Works Department Application and Utilities Installation Permit. In general, bank run gravel shall be used and placed in six (6) inch layers and thoroughly compacted with approved power tampers. 

The project owner shall restore the work site and all other disturbed areas within a twenty-day period after the initial disturbance. However, livestock fencing, driveways, or other features required to be kept in service shall be restored immediately or an alternative method of functional equivalence shall be provided. 

In general, the intent of backfilling is to restore the site to its original or better condition including surface appearance as much as practicable. 

j.          Pipe Restraint. All tees, dead-ends, bends, changes in direction, and hydrants shall be restrained using integral locking joints or joint restraint devices. The length of the restrained pipe and the number and method of such devices at the pipe joints that are to be used in a particular situation depend on pipe size, configuration, and main pressures. The manufacturer shall be consulted for recommendations on the proper specifications. 

Concrete thrust blocking of the proper mix, strength, and dimensions may be required by OWU. See Standard Details for construction details.

k.         Testing. Testing of water mains shall, in general, proceed in accordance with the following sequence:

1. Main filling through testing ports via backflow prevention device.

2. Scouring flush

3. Pressure testing

4. Disinfection period

5. Final flushing 

6. Bacteriological testing

No activity associated with main testing shall compromise the integrity or safety of the existing system in any manner. The testing procedure follows the current editions of AWWA Standards C605 and C651.

It is recommended that the main be filled slowly in order to minimize hydraulic shock, system disruption, and air entrapment. Mains shall not be filled without prior notice to and supervision by OWU. Connecting gate valves shall not be opened without OWU personnel present and a waste port opened on the new section to insure that flow proceeds from the existing system into the new section. An alternative to this method of filling is to use a temporary fill line fitted with a double check valve assembly. 

A scouring flush is intended to remove debris and air pockets from the newly installed work. There should be enough flow to insure a velocity of eight (8) feet per second. It is the project owner’s responsibility to insure that there is both an adequate supply of flushing water and adequate waste ports available to flow a sufficient volume of water to achieve the required flow.  This flush must be scheduled in advance with OWU.  In order to minimize disruption to the existing system the flush can only be conducted with OWU personnel operating the gate valve and controlling the timing and rate of the flush. It is possible that this flush will have to be done in stages or in the early morning hours depending upon system demands. The project owner is responsible for disposing of the flushed water in a manner that will prevent property damage to lawns, roadways, vehicles, or other property. 

The new main shall undergo pressure and leakage testing.  The pressure in the new system, including hydrants, shall be raised, by pumping, to a pressure equivalent to 1.5 times the service pressure or 150 psi whichever is higher.  The test pressure shall be determined at the lowest point of the section under test and corrected in accordance with gage location.  Ensure that the allowable pressure for the class of pipe used is not exceeded.  Hydrant auxiliary gate valves shall be open and the test pressure applied against the internal hydrant valve. If the specified pressure cannot be achieved, the section under test shall be considered as failing the pressure test. If the aforementioned pressure can be achieved and then maintained for two (2) hours, the section under test shall be considered as passing the pressure and leakage test without further testing. If, however, after achieving the aforementioned pressure, additional pumping is required to maintain the specified pressure, then the amount of water required to maintain this pressure shall be measured during the two (2) hour period. This measured quantity of water shall be classified leakage and shall be compared with the allowable leakage as calculated by the formula as given in AWWA specification C651, current edition. Should the actual leakage exceed the allowable, then the section under test shall be considered as failing the test. If, however, the actual leakage is equal to or less than allowable, then the section under test shall be considered as passing the test. 

The project owner shall disinfect the project with a chlorine solution of sufficient strength to insure a residual of 25 ppm of chlorine after twenty-four (24) hours. The disinfection method shall be in accordance with the current AWWA standard C651, continuous feed method. Hydrants shall be operated during the disinfection process to insure that hydrants and hydrant branches are disinfected. Following disinfection, all treated water shall be thoroughly flushed from the project until only a normal system residual remains. Chlorinated water shall be disposed of in a manner acceptable to the Department of Ecology. OWU personnel shall take a bacteria sample for each 1,000 feet of main. The chain of custody of the sample(s) shall remain entirely within OWU until the sample(s) is delivered to the lab for analysis. The main shall remain pressurized but not in service until satisfactory results are achieved. Unsatisfactory results will require additional flushing and/or additional chlorination before additional samples are taken. This process will be repeated until satisfactory results are achieved. 

l.          Safety. All excavated material shall be piled in a manner that will not endanger the work and that will avoid obstructing sidewalks and driveways. Existing hydrants, utility vaults, valve boxes, or other appurtenances shall be left unobstructed and accessible at all times. Gutters shall be kept clear or other provisions made for street drainage, and natural watercourses shall not be obstructed. To protect persons from injury and to avoid property damage, adequate barricades, construction signs, torches, lanterns and guards as required shall be placed and maintained during the progress of the construction work until it is safe for traffic to use the highway. All excavations shall be enclosed by fences or barricades and shall be protected by proper lights when the visibility is poor. The contractor shall comply with WISHA construction safety rules (WAC chapter 296-155 Safety Standards for Construction Work and WAC chapter 296-800 Safety and Health Core Rules). Also the rules and regulations of the local authorities respecting safety provisions shall be observed. It is the intent of this section to insure that the responsibility and liability for project safety, is entirely under the control of the project owner. 

m.        As-Built Drawings. No newly constructed water main, water main extension, fire line, or service line shall be approved for service or supplied with water until OWU has received an acceptable as-built drawing from the project engineer. The purpose of an as-built record is for future reference when location or repairs are required. Clear, complete, and accurate measurements and information are therefore required. OWU prefers measurements to be made from permanent, close-by, visible, man-made objects such as building lines, hydrants, utility poles or enclosures, concrete monuments, head-walls, catch basins, manholes, etc. Roadway centerlines are preferred while road edges are discouraged. Measurements are to be taken in two dimensions. Measurements are to be shown with dimension lines and are not to be referenced to the survey stationing of the subdivision or the pipeline project. Horizontal alignment of the water main will be provided every 50 feet. All appurtenances will be shown and referenced. Other utility crossings or other infrastructure that would be uncovered during a subsequent excavation will be shown. ROW or easement boundaries shall be shown with dimensions. As-built records will not be accepted until OWU is satisfied that the as-built record is satisfactory for OWU’s needs. The contractor is required to notify OWU staff after assembly is complete and shall not cover the work until it has been photographed.

n.         Dead Ends. Any main extension, 6-inches and larger, resulting in a dead end shall have a standard fire hydrant with a guard valve at the dead end. A properly restrained main valve shall also be required so that a future connection can be made without shutting down any part of the current extension. Any main extension shall go to the farthest boundary line of the last property receiving water or a right through easement or fee simple in order for others to extend in the future. Main extensions smaller than 6-inches resulting in a dead end shall have a standard blowoff assembly placed at the dead end. See Standard Details for blowoff construction details. 

OWU, in its sole judgment, may require the project owner to complete a loop to insure distribution water quality even if such a loop requires the installation of pipe beyond what the project owner needs to provide service to the project area.   

Adopted by motion of the OWU Board of Directors on January 16, 2016.                              

_________________________________ 

Mark Mayer, President