SECTION 7

TESTING AND DISINFECTION

7.1 CLEANSING OF PIPELINES

1. On completion of construction and before any testing or disinfection, internal surfaces of

pipelines shall be cleared thoroughly in such a way to remove all oil, grit and other deleterious
matter.

7.2 PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO TESTING PIPELINES

1. Before testing any pipeline, the contractor shall ensure that it is anchored adequately and that
thrusts from bends, branch outlets or from the pipeline ends are transmitted to solid ground or to
a suitable temporary anchorage.

2. No pipeline with the following features shall be tested until the curing periods have elapsed:

Feature of Pipeline Curing Period

Cement Mortar lining and coating 7 days

Cement Mortar at joint 8 days
Thrust Block 7 days

3. Open ends and open outlets from appurtenances shall be plugged properly.

7.3 NOTIFICATION OF TEST

1. The Contractor shall notify MWC at least one clear working day beforehand of his intention to
test a section pipe.

2. Contractor shall submit a sketch of section of pipeline to be tested. The sketch shall include the
section schematically in profile; and show points of air release or water injection and the point of
observation.

7.4 TESTING OF NON-PRESSURE PIPELINES

1. Non-pressure pipelines laid in open excavation shall be tested after they are jointed and before
any concreting or backfilling is commenced, other than such as maybe necessary for structural
stability while under test.

2. The pipelines shall generally be tested by means of an air or water test or in certain
circumstances by a visual or closed circuit television (CCTV) examination, in lengths determined
by the course of construction, in accordance with a schedule approved by MWC.

3. A further test shall be carried out after the backfilling is complete.

7.5 WATER TEST FOR NON-PRESSURE PIPELINES (EXFILTRATION)

1. The test pressure for non-pressure pipelines up to and including 750 mm shall not be less than
1.2 m head of water above the pipe soffit or ground water level, whichever is the higher at the
highest point, and not greater than 6 m head at the lowest point of the section. Steeply graded
pipelines shall be tested in stages in cases where the maximum head as stated above, would be
exceeded if the whole section were tested in one length.

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 2. The pipeline shall be filled with water and a minimum period of two hours shall be allowed for
absorption, after which water shall be added from a measuring vessel at intervals of 5 minutes
and the quantity required to maintain the original water level noted. Unless otherwise specified,
the length of pipeline shall be accepted if the quantity of water added over a 30 minute period is
less than 0.50 liter per linear metre per metre of nominal diameter.

7.6 AIR TEST FOR NON-PRESSURE PIPELINES

1. Non-pressure pipelines to be air tested shall be air pumped in by suitable means until a pressure
of 100 mm head of water is indicated in a U-tube connected to the system. The pressure is
maintained for two minutes to allow temperature of the air to come to equilibrium with the pipe
walls.

2. The pipeline shall be accepted if the air pressure remains above 75 mm head of water after a
period of 5 minutes without further pumping, following a period for stabilization. Failure to pass
the test shall not preclude acceptance of the pipeline if a successful water test, can subsequently
be carried out in accordance with Clause 7.5.

7.7 CCTV INSPECTION OF NON-PRESSURE PIPELINES

1. Where internal inspection of pipelines by CCTV is required, the Contractor shall provide all
necessary equipment, including suitable covered accommodation for viewing the monitor screen,
together with personnel experienced in the operation of the equipment and interpretation of
results.

2. The intensity of illumination within the pipe and the rate of draw of the camera shall be such as
to allow a proper examination of the inside of the pipe. Provision shall be made for the
movement of the camera to be stopped and its position recorded and for permanent
photographs to be taken at any point requested by MWC.

7.8 INFILTRATION

1. Non-pressure pipelines (including tunnels) and manholes shall be tested for infiltration after
backfilling. All inlets to the system shall be effectively closed, and any residual flow shall be
deemed to be infiltration.

2. The pipeline, including manholes shall be accepted as satisfactory if the infiltration, including
infiltration to manholes, in 30 minutes does not exceed 0.50 litre per lineal metre per metre
nominal diameter.

3. Notwithstanding the satisfactory completion of the above test, if there is any discernible flow of
water entering the pipeline at any point, which can be, located either by visual at CCTV
inspection, the Contractor shall take such measure as are necessary to stop such infiltration.

7.9 TESTING OF PRESSURE PIPELINES

1. Hydrotesting of pressure pipe lines shall be in accordance with Section 4, AWWA C-600.
2. For pipe sizes smaller than 300mm diameter, the hydrostatic test pressure shall be 100 meters
of water column based on the elevation of the lowest point in the pipeline under test and
corrected to the elevation of the test gauge. The duration of the pressure test and leakage test
shall be for a period of two (2) hours for each test. Any defective pipe, fitting, joint, valve, service
connection or hydrant shall be removed and replaced and the test shall be repeated until
satisfactory to MWC.

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7.10 SWABBING OF WATERMAINS

1. On completion of the hydraulic test of watermains, a foam swab shall be passed through the
main for cleansing, sufficient times to achieve clear wash water.

7.11 DISINFECTION OF WATERMAINS

1. Disinfection of watermains shall be in accordance with AWWA C-651.

7.12 CLEANSING OF STRUCTURES

1. On completion of construction, and before any disinfection, internal surfaces of structures

designed to retain an aqueous liquid shall be cleaned thoroughly in such a way as to remove all
oil, grit and other deleterious matter.

7.13 TESTING OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES DESIGNED TO RETAIN AN AQUEOUS LIQUID

1. After cleaning, and as far as practicable before any earth or other filling is placed against the
outside wall faces, concrete structures designed to retain an aqueous liquid shall be filled with
water at a uniform rate of no greater than 2 m in 24 hours. A period of 21 days shall be allowed
by the Contractor for stabilization, after which the water level shall be recorded by approved
means at 24 hour intervals for a test period of 7 days. During the test period the total
permissible drop, after allowing for evaporation and rainfall, shall not exceed 1/500 of the
average water depth of the full tank or 10mm, whichever is less.

2. Notwithstanding the satisfactory completion of the above test, any leakage visible on the outside
faces of the structure shall be stopped. Any rectification of cracks in the wall section shall,
where practicable, be carried out from the inside face.

7.14 TESTING OF ROOFS

1. Roof of service reservoirs shall be watertight and shall, where practicable, be tested on
completion by lagooning with water to a minimum depth of 25mm for a period of 24 hours.

2. Where it is practicable, because of roof falls or otherwise, to contain 25 mm depth of water, the
roof shall be thoroughly wetted by continuous hosing for a period of not less than 6 hours.

3. In either case, the roof shall be regarded as satisfactory if no leaks or damp patches shown in
the soffit.

4. The roof covering shall be completed as soon as possible after satisfactory testing.

7.15 DISINFECTION OF STRUCTURES FOR POTABLE WATER

1. Immediately before acceptance of any structure for potable water, the interior shall be
disinfected using chlorinated water to give a residual of not less than 20 mg/litre of free chlorine.
The structure shall be emptied, flushed with clean water and then filled with water having
chlorine residual of not more than 0.50 mg/free chlorine to normal top water level.

2. After 24 hours MWC shall arrange for a sample to be taken for bacteriological analysis. The
structure shall be deemed to be disinfected if there are no coliforms in that sample.

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7.16 PRESSURE TESTING POLYETHYLENE PIPELINES

1. The pressure in the main shall be raised to test pressure at a uniform rate. The time taken
between commencement of pumping and achieving test pressure (tL) shall be recorded. This is
the Pressure loading time.

2. The pressure will be expected to delay with time due to the characteristic stress relaxation in
polyethylene. Readings of pressure delay versus time shall be taken from valve closure, with
time being recorded in minutes. A typical sequence of readings is illustrated in Fig. A.

3. As the pressure delay is of exponential form the use of natural logarithmns is necessary when
comparing readings.

4. Take a first reading of Pressure P1 at t1 where t1 is equal to the pressure loading time tL.

Note tlc = t1 + 0.4 tL

5. Take a second reading of pressure P2 at a delay time of approximately 7tL; this time=t2.

Note t2c = t2 corrected = t2 + 0.4tL

loge P1 – loge P2
Calculate N1 = --------------------------
loge t2c – loge tlc

6. For a sound main this ratio N1 will be between 0.045 and 0.13. If the value is less than 0.045
then there is too great a volume of air in the main. This air will have to be removed before a
satisfactory test can be performed.

7. Take a further reading of pressure P3 at a delay time not less than 15tL. Let this time be t3.

Note t3c = t3 corrected = t3 + 0.4tL

Loge P2 – logeP3
Calculate N2 = --------------------------
loge t3c – loge t2c

If N2 is greater than 0.13 an unacceptable leak is indicated.

8. The sensitivity of the test may be increased by extending the value of t3.

9. On completion of any test sequence, the remaining pressure shall be released slowly and at as
near a constant rate as possible.

10. When further pressure testing is required, such test must not be attempted until a period equal at
least 5 times the previous test period has elapsed.

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 Figure A: Pressure Test Sequence
of
Pressure Readings

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Specifications
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