CHAPTER 23

WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

COST OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

The cost of a water distribution system will include the materials, equipment,
labor, and supervision to accomplish some or all of the following:
1. Clear the right-of-way for the trench
2. Remove and replace pavement
3. Excavate and backfill trenches
4. Relocate utility lines
5. Install pipe
6. Install fittings
7. Install valves and boxes
8. Install fire hydrants
9. Install service connections, master, and meter boxes
10. Drill holes under roads and pavement, and install casings for pipeline
11. Test and disinfect water pipe
PIPELINES
1. Cast iron
a. bell and spigot
b. mechanical joint
c. push-on joint, or gasket-seal joint
d. threaded
e. cement-lined
2. Stell
a. Threaded, black or galvanized
b. Welded, plain or cement-lined
3. Reinforced concrete
a. Prestressed
b. Nonprestressed
4. Brass abd copper
5. Lead
6. Plastic
BELL-AND-SPIGOT CAST-IRON PIPE
Bells-and-spigot pipe is cast with a bell on one end and a spigot on the other. Joint
are made by inserting the spigot end into the bell of an adjacent pipe, caulking one

or two encircling strands of yarning material into the bell, then filling the balance
of the bell with a specified jointing material, such, as lead, cement, or an approved
substitute. Fittings and valves are installed in a pipeline in the same manner. A
joint of pipe may be cut if necessary to enable a fitting or valve to be installed at a
designated location.
PUSH-ON JOINT CAST-IRON PIPE
This pipe, which can also be identified as gasket-type joint, or gasket-seal joint,
has a built-in rubber-type gasket in the bell or hub that produces a watertight joint
when the spigot end of the joining pipe is forced in to the bell. This is now the
most widely used type of cast-iron pipe in the water service.
FITTING FOR BELL-AND SPIGOT CAST-IRON PIPE
Fittings for bell-and-spigot cast-iron pipe include tees, crosses, bends, reducers,
etc. the fitting can be purchased with any desired combination of bells and spigot.
The joints are made with the same materials that are used in joining the pipelines
MECHANICAL-JOINT CAST-IRON PIPE
A joint for this pipe is made by inserting the plain end of one pipe into the socket
of an adjoining pipe, then forcing a gasket ring into the socket by means of a castiron gland, which is drawn to the socket by tightening bolts through the gland and
socket. Fittings are installed in a similar manner.
VALVES
Valves for cast-iron water pipes are usually cast-iron body, bronze-mounted, bell
or hub type. Gate valves should be used. A cast-iron adjustable-length valve box
should be installed over each wrench-operated valve to permit easy acces when it
is necessary to operate the valve.
SERVICE LINES
Service lines are installed from the water pipes to furnish water to the customers.
These line usually include a bronze corporation cock, which is tapped into the
water pipe, copper pipe extending to the property line or meter, a bronze curb
cock, and a meter set in box.

FIRE HYDRANTS

Fire hydrants are specified by the type of construction, size of valve, sizes and
number of hose connections, size of hub for connection to the water pipe, and
depth of bury. It is good practice to install a gate vlave between each hydrant and
the main water pipe , so that the water can be shut off in the event repairs to the
hydrant are necessary.
TEST OF WATER PIPES
Specification usually require the contactor to subject the water pipe to a
hydrostatic test after it has been laid, prior to backfilling the trenches. If any
joints show excessive leakage, they must be recaulked. It is common practice to
lay several blocks of pipe, install a valve temporarily, and subject the section to a
test.
STERILIZATION OF WATER PIPES
Prior to placing a water distribution system in service, it should be troughly
sterilized. Cholorine is most frequently used to sterilize water pipes.
COST OF CUTTING CAST-IRON PIPE
Cast-iron pipe may be cut with chisels or with chain cutters. Chisel cutting is done
by two or more laborers using a steel chisel with a wood handle and a 6 to 18-1b
hammer. Chain cutters can be operated by hand for pipes up to 12 in diameter, but
for larger pipes a power-driven cutter should be used.
LABOR REQUIRED TO LAY CAST-IRON PIPE
The installation of bell-and-spigot cast-iron pipe will include some of or all the
following operation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cutting the pipe, if necessary

Lowering the pipe into the trench
Inserting the spigot into the bell
Yarning the bell
Attaching a runner and pouring the lead
Removing the rinner and caulking the lead

LABOR REQUIRED TO LAY CAST-IRON PIPE WITH MECHANICAL

JOINTS

The operations required to lay cast-iron pipe with mechanical joints include
lowering the pipe into the trench, installing the gasket and gland on the spigot,
centering the pipe in the bell.
The crew required to dig the trench lay 12-in. pipe furnished in 18-ft
lengths, and backfill the trenches for trenches 3 to 6 ft deep in firm earth with no
shoring needed might the following:
1 trenching machine operator
2 labores on bell holes
1 tractor operator
2 labores on pipe
2 workes installing gland and gasket and centering pipe
1 person tightening nuts
1 driver for utility truck
1 bulldozer operator backfilling trench
1 foreman
LABOR REQUIRED TO LAY PUSH-ON JOINT CAST-IRON PIPE
The operations required to lay cast-iron pipe and fittings with push-on joints
include cutting the pipe to length, if necessary, lowering the pipe and fittings into
the trench, using a tractor with a side boom or a crane, then forcing the spigot end
of the pipe being laid into the bell end of the pipe previously laid. Bell holes be
dug in the trench for proper bedding if the pipe and joints.
COST OF A CAST-IRON PIPE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
In estimating the cost of installing a water distribution system, the estimator must
consider the many variables that will influence the cost of the project. No two
project are alike. For one project, there may be very favorable conditions, such as
a relatively level terrain, free of trees and vegetation, out in the open with no
obstruction, no rocks, no ground water, no utility pipes, and no pavement, and
little rain to delay the project.
HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is frequently used for installation of water

lines. It is also used for installation of gas lines and underground cables for phone
and fiber optic cables. Inrecent year, HDD has been used for gravity pipelines and,
with increased accuracy of locating and tracking equipment and improvement in
methods, this trend is growing. The term directional drilling is used to describe the
unique ability to track the location of the drill bit and steer it during the drilling
process. The accuracy of installation depends on the survey system that is used
and the skill of the operator. Generally the accuracy is within 1 percent of the
length.
PROCEDURE FOR HORIZONTAL DIRECTION DRILLING
The directional drilling operation involves several: pilot hole, preream, and
pullback (see Fig. 23.1).The first stage involves drilling a pilot hole, from one side
of the obstacle to the other, along the design centerline of the proposed pipeline.
The second stage involves enlarging the pilot hole to the desired diameter to
accommodate the pipeline. Usually, enlarging the borehole and pulling back the
product pipe can be accomplished in one step. The pilot hole is drilled with a
specially built rig with an inclided carriage, typically adjusted between 5 and 20
degrees, which pushes the drill rods into the ground. The optimum angle of entry
of the pilot drill pipe, or pilotstring, is 12 degrees with respect to the ground
surface. The pilot hole continues at a 12-degree angle until it passes trough a
sagbend to level out horizontally under the obstacle at a desired depth. Once the
hole has passed the obstacle, it rises through another sagbend to exit on the far
side at an angle of approximately 8 to 12 degrees.
PRODUCTION RATES
Most mini-HDD jobs are usually completed in a day or even a few hours. It is
common to complete a 200-ft job in a few hours. For midi-HDD projects, and for
lengths of 1,000 ft or longer, the job may take 10 or 15 days, including
mobilization and setup of the rig preparation of the product pipe. For major river
crossings using maxi-HDD, the project may take several months to complete