(A) The installed water main addition shall pass the hydrostatic pressure test set forth below prior to final acceptance. The private contractor or developer shall be permitted, at his or her option, to backfill completed sections of the water main addition prior to pressure testing. However, the private contractor or developer shall notify the city of his or her exercise of the foregoing option prior to backfilling. In the event that the installed water main addition fails to pass the pressure testing, the private contractor or developer shall pay for expenses of locating leaks, replacing excavations and retesting sections. During pressure testing, the pipe shall be filled slowly with water and air shall be completely expelled from the pipe. In order to expel completely the air from the pipe, the pipe shall be tapped at the high point to vent the air, if necessary.
(B) Pressure 50% in excess of working pressure, as measured at the point of lowest elevations, shall be applied for not less than two hours for testing of exposed sections of piping, and for not less than 24 hours for sections of piping backfilled prior to testing. All exposed piping, fittings, valves, hydrants and joints shall be examined for defects. Leaking joints shall be remade and then retested and re-examined. Minimum testing pressure shall be 120 pounds per square inch (120 psi).
(C) No installed water main addition shall be finally accepted unless and until the leakage, as measured under the testing pressure, is less than 70 U.S. gallons per 24 hours per mile per inch nominal diameter for pipe of 12-foot lengths, 50 U.S. gallons per 16-foot lengths, and correspondingly varied for other lengths of pipe.
(1986 Code, § 7.05.160) (Ord. 1240, passed - -1984)