Watermain Testing and Commissioning Procedures

Introduction

All water main installation, connected to the City of Whitehorse water distribution system must
be installed, disinfected and commissioned according to general accepted practices. The project
consulting engineer and the contractor installing the pipe are responsible for ensuring pressure
testing and disinfecting of new water mains in the City of Whitehorse water distribution system.
Any pipe 75mm or larger will require disinfection and pressure testing. Bacteriological sampling
is to be done by the consulting engineer or the City representative who will submit the samples
to Yukon Environmental Health for analysis. A water main testing plan is to be submitted to the
City of Whitehorse Engineering Department for approval a minimum of 5 days before testing is
scheduled to begin. The testing plan must include, water main plan and profile (design or as-
built) drawings, locations for flushing, test ports if required, proposed pressure test sections
identified on a drawing, chlorination injection point, de-chlorination and disposal of super
chlorinated water and sampling points.

Flushing

Water mains are to be flushed before the disinfecting of the mains begins. Water mains shall be
flushed with a minimum flow velocity of 0.8 metres per second to ensure that all foreign
materials and contaminants are removed from the main. Flushing must be witnessed and
signed off by the consulting engineer or the designated City representative.

The table below summarizes the flow conditions required to achieve the specified 0.8 metres
per second flow rate:

PIPE REQUIRED FLOW NUMBER OF

SIZE OF TAP (MM)
FOR 0.8 M/S 2.5”
DIAMETER NUMBER OF TAPS
VELOCITY HYDRANT
25 40 50
(mm) (L/S) NOZZLES*

100 6.5 1 - - 1

150 13.0 - 1 - 1

200 26.0 - 2 1 1

250 38.0 - 3 2 1

300 57.0 - - 2 2

450 100.0 - - 4 2

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Pressure and Leakage Testing

The purpose of the pressure and leakage test is to determine if the installation is capable of
withstanding ordinary operating pressures without failure or excessive leakage at the joints and
service connections. This is to be done after all service connections are complete and curb
cocks (CC’s) are installed. Contractors may perform an unofficial pressure test after the
installation of the mains and before service connections are done to determine if there are any
leaks in the main before continuing with service connections. The pressure pump must be
capable of meeting required test pressure and include 2 accurate pressure gauges, backflow
preventer and a pressure relief valve with an upper limit of 1400 KPa. The pump will be
dedicated to water main pressure testing and will not be used for other construction activities.
Water storage tanks will be of a non–corrosive material and be dedicated to water main testing.
The volume of the tank shall not be more than 10 times the allowable leakage for the duration of
the test.

General Procedures for Pressure and Leakage Test of D.I. and PVC Pipe

1. Install all water services, air relief valves and blow offs.
2. If boundary valves are required to be opened contact PW’s. Under no circumstances is a
contractor or consultant to operate a boundary valve.
3. Partially or completely backfill excavation before testing.
4. Wait a minimum 3 days for concrete thrust blocks to cure.
5. Ensure that main stops are open and curb stops are closed.
6. Inform City of Whitehorse and Consultant 48 hours prior to pressure test.
7. Open all mains valves in the test section.
8. Slowly fill mains with water ensuring that all air is expelled at high points.
9. Maximum length of test section shall be no longer than 450 metres unless approved by
the City.
10. Raise the water main pressure to 1050 KPa.
11. No pressure drop allowance will made for services.
12. Test duration to be 2 hours.
13. When test duration is done slowly re-pressure the water main to 1050 KPa and record
amount of make-up water required.
14. Consultant or City to witness and record pressure and leakage test results on City
provided form.

Valve Test

Each section between valves shall be brought to test pressure. Test pressure shall be held without
loss for 2 minutes before opening the valve and releasing the pressure into the next section.

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The Table Below Summarizes The Allowable Leakage For Each Size Of Pipe:

Ductile Iron & Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe Leakage Allowance

Allowable Leakage (litres per 300 m per hour)
Pressure
Pipe Diameter (mm)
(KPa)
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600
3100 2.42 3.60 4.81 6.02 7.23 8.44 9.65 10.82 12.04 14.46
2760 2.27 3.41 4.54 5.68 6.81 7.95 9.08 10.22 11.36 13.63
2410 2.12 3.18 4.24 5.30 6.40 7.46 8.52 9.58 10.64 12.76
2070 1.97 2.95 3.94 4.92 5.90 6.89 7.91 8.68 9.84 11.81
1900 1.89 2.84 3.79 4.69 5.64 6.59 7.53 8.48 9.42 11.32
1720 1.78 2.69 3.60 4.50 5.37 6.28 7.19 8.10 8.97 10.79
1550 1.70 2.57 3.41 4.28 5.11 5.98 6.81 7.68 8.52 10.22
1380 1.63 2.42 3.22 4.01 4.84 5.60 6.43 7.23 8.02 9.65
1210 1.51 2.23 3.03 3.75 4.50 5.26 6.02 6.78 7.49 9.01
1030 1.40 2.08 2.80 3.48 4.16 4.88 5.56 6.28 6.96 8.36
860 1.29 1.89 2.54 3.18 3.82 4.47 5.07 5.72 6.36 7.61
690 1.14 1.70 2.27 2.84 3.41 3.97 4.54 5.11 5.68 6.81

Expansion Allowance (Polyethylene and HDPE)

The pressure test involves pressurizing the pipe and adding makeup water until the pipe has
reached its initial deformation. This level of deformation is usually attained after 3 to 4 hours
depending on the size of the pipe. It is characterized by a noticeable reduction in the amount of
makeup water required to return the piping system to the test pressure. It is at this time that the
actual test period begins. Its duration shall be 2 hours. At the end of the test period, a measured
amount of makeup water shall be added to return the pipe to the test pressure. The allowable
amount of makeup water shall be determined as follows:

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 Allowance For Expansion Under Test Pressure [Litres
per 30 m of pipe] at 23°C

Nominal Pipe Size 1 hour 2 hour 3 hour

(mm) Test Test Test

75 0.38 0.57 0.95

100 0.49 0.95 1.52

150 1.14 2.28 3.41

200 2.65 4.93 7.96

275 3.79 7.58 11.75

300 4.17 8.72 12.89

350 5.30 10.23 15.92

400 8.33 12.51 18.93

450 8.33 16.29 24.63

500 10.23 20.84 30.31

550 13.26 26.52 39.78

600 17.05 33.72 50.39

700 20.84 42.06 63.27

800 26.52 54.18 85.24

900 34.10 68.19 102.29

1000 41.67 83.35 125.02

The amount of expansion taking place during the pressure testing of polyethylene pipe is
dependent on the temperature of the pipe during testing. The temperature of the pipe can be taken
as an average of the temperature of the water pumped into the pipe and the temperature of the
empty pipe immediately before testing (ambient air temperature). When testing the pipe at
temperatures below 23 degrees Celsius, the amount of makeup water should be multiplied by the
manufacturer's appropriate correction factor.

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Disinfection

The purpose of disinfection is to destroy pathogens (harmful microorganisms) which may be

present in the water mains after construction is complete. Chlorine can be introduced into the
mains from either a hydrant, service connection or a test port. Ensure that feed point is no more
than 3 metres from the beginning of the new water main.

General Procedures for Chlorination of Water Mains

1. Inform City of Whitehorse and Consultant 48 hours prior to test.

2. Ensure that all boundary valves are closed.
3. Open hydrant, service or test port to discharge water as chlorinated water is being fed
through main.
4. Feed chlorinated water at a concentration of 50ppm to 100ppm into the water main. Do
not introduce a solution of more than 100ppm into the water main.
5. Check that chlorinated water has reached all sections of the main to be disinfected by
flushing and testing chlorine residual at each hydrant using an approved field kit.
6. Operate all valves in test section to thoroughly disinfect all appurtenances.
7. Once water main has been thoroughly chlorinated as approved by the consultant or the
City, wait a minimum of 12 hours for residual test.
8. Residual chlorine tests are to be taken at a minimum of 2 locations along the main, at
every hydrant and must be at least 20ppm after 12 hours. If any residual test is below
20ppm then each section on either side of the failed test and the failed section will
require re-chlorination.
9. De-chlorination must be done no longer than 24 hours after chlorination.
10. The contractor must determine how chlorinated water is to be neutralized or disposed
and ensure this procedure is acceptable to the City. Under no circumstances will
chlorinated water be allowed to be discharged into a sewer system or near a water
course.
11. Once de-chlorination is done, low concentration test strips are to be used to confirm that
chlorinated water has been flushed out of the mains.
12. Consultant or City to witness and record test results on City provided form.

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Sampling

The purpose of the sampling is to ensure that water inside the mains is of a suitable quality for
human consumption as determined by Yukon Government, Environmental Health Services. The
assumption is that the samples are representative of the water in the water main.

General Procedures for Water Sampling

1. Notify City and Consultant when water samples are scheduled to be taken.
2. A minimum of 16 hours after de-chlorination, the first water sample may be taken.
3. Samples are to be taken by the Consultant or the City with assistance from the
contractor.
4. Every sample shall be collected, stored and delivered to Yukon Government,
Environmental Health Services (as per their instructions) at #2 Hospital Road.
5. Sampling locations should be done at a service or test port. Hydrants can be used but
are not ideal.
6. Samples are required for every 350 metres of water main and one from each end of the
main.
7. A minimum of 24 hours after the first samples are taken a second set of samples can be
done.
8. If any of the samples produces an unsatisfactory result the main will be flushed and
samples re-taken a minimum 24 hours later.
9. If additional test come back unsatisfactory then mains will require re-chlorination.
10. Two complete sets of satisfactory sample results are required before the water main will
be activated by the City.

Once all water main testing has been satisfactorily completed and test results signed by the
consulting engineer or City Engineering Department, water mains can be activated for public
use. The City reserves the right in the interest of public safety to deny activation of water
mains if proper testing procedures have not been followed regardless of sample results.