Harwich Water Department196 Chatham Road, Harwich, Ma  02645508-432-0304
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THE TOWN OF HARWICH WATER DEPARTMENT RULES & REGULATIONS

SECTION 6 - Requirements & Specifications for Laying Water Mains

Water Mains and Appurtenances Standards

6.1 Materials and Installations
All materials to be used in conjunction with any and all water mains and installations of the same shall be in strict accordance with these "Specifications for Water Mains and Service Installation" of these regulations. All water mains and appurtenances shall be installed by the Water Department employees or a Contractor who has been approved by the Water Department.

6.2 Pipe Size:
All water mains shall be sized by the Water Department in conjunction with the Master Plan of the distribution system, or as calculated by the Water Department or its consulting engineers. All new water mains shall have the minimum diameter of eight (8) inches. Piping for hydrant services shall have the minimum diameter of six (6) inches.

6.3 Fire Hydrant Spacing:
Fire hydrants shall be spaced at a minimum distance of 500 feet in residential zoned areas; 250 feet in commercial, business, and industrial zoned areas. The Fire Chief can request a different spacing standard depending on the situation. The applicant must show proof that the Fire Chief has approved all proposed fire hydrant locations. Measurements shall be taken along traveled way, whether public or private. Space and additional fire hydrant shall begin at the closest existing hydrant. An additional fire hydrant shall be placed at the dead end of all water mains.

6.4 Fire Hydrant Access:
No person shall obstruct access to a fire hydrant. Fire hydrants shall have a three foot clear radius measured from the center of the stem of the top of the hydrant. No foliage, fencing, parking space, or other object shall obstruct the clear area. No person may landscape to change the grade around the base of the hydrant so as to prevent the use of a four inch cap. Location where existing objects such as, but not limited to, buildings, walls, fences, trees, on sloping grades that does not permit a three (3) foot clearance radius, may be granted a waiver by the Water Department. Before any waiver of this Regulation is granted, all other possible locations must be considered.

6.5 Use of Fire Hydrant:
The use of all fire hydrants is restricted to employees of the Water Department or by persons given specific authorization by the Water Department during emergencies members of the Fire Department of the Town of Harwich and or other towns lending mutual aid are authorized to operate fire hydrant.

6.6 Cost of Water Mains:
In private division of lands, commercial, business or industrial complexes, and all other areas not presently serviced by Town water, the developer or owner shall be responsible for all costs with regard to water main installation(s) and connection(s) to existing system and or maintenance of already installed water mains.

In existing divisions of land, water mains shall be installed under the betterment sections of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 42G, 42H and 42I subject to Town meeting appropriations. All betterment projects shall be in strict accordance with the "Betterment Policy" as published and adopted by the Board of Water Commissioners.

6.7 Need for Water Mains:
The developer or owner of a division of land where water is available within 500 feet will be required to serve and supply his development with water in accordance with these regulations. Any property that has existing public water service and is a division of land, the developer or owner will be required to upgrade the water mains and services to comply with these rules and regulations before the transfer of any parcel. Industrial, commercial, condominiums or multi-family residential, and like buildings that are not a division of land shall be reviewed by the Water Superintendent and the Fire Chief on an individual basis. They shall still be governed by these Rules and Regulations and be required to install and maintain water mains and fire hydrants.

6.8 Application for Water Main Installation:
An application for water main installation shall be completed by the developer or owner and submitted to the Water Department for review and approval before any work can proceed. All applications must contain the complete information requested and an engineer construction plan prepared by Massachusetts Registered Professional Engineer with a scale of 1 inch equal 40 feet (1"=40'). Payment of all required application fees, including the service availability charge and any other fees established by the Board of Water Commissioners shall be made at the time of application.

6.9 Pipe and Fittings
All water main pipes shall conform in design and manufactured to the latest issue ANSI/AWWA standard C151-91 Class 52 "Ductile-Iron pipe, Centrifugal cast, for water or other liquids". The pipes shall be supplied in lengths not to exceed 20 feet. Pipe shall have a pressure class of 300. All fittings shall be Ductile-Iron and conform in design and manufactured to the latest issue of AWWA standard C110 "ductile-Iron and Gray-Iron fittings, 3 ins. through 48 in. for water and other liquids". All pipe and fittings shall have a Cement-Mortar lining inside and a Bituminous Seal Coat applied both inside and outside to conform to AWWA C104, "Cement-Mortar lining for Ductile-Iron pipe and fittings for water". Push on and Mechanical joints are permitted and shall conform in design and manufactured to the latest issue of AWWA standard C111 "Rubber-Gasket joint for Ductile-Iron pressure pipe and fittings".

6.10 Valves
All valves shall conform in design and manufactured to the latest issue of AWWA standard C500 "Resilient-Seated gate valves for water Supply". Rated at 150-psi working pressure and a minimum 300-psi pressure test. All valves shall have a 2-inch operating nut, mechanical joint hubs (except for wet taps), and open in a counter clockwise direction. If shallow depth of burial or other conditions of service requires that the valve be installed in a horizontal position, a nut-operated bevel gear shall be fitted to the valve for service operation through a valve box.

6.11 Hydrants
Hydrants shall conform in design and manufacture to the latest issue of AWWA standard C502 "Dry Barrel Fire Hydrants". Acceptable hydrants are the U.S. Pipe Metropolitan 250 Model 94, the Darling B62B and the A423 Mueller 200 Super Centurion. Hydrants shall be manufactured to highest quality and design. Hydrants shall be compression types; i.e. the main valve shall open against and close with water pressure. Hydrants shall be of the dry top design with "O" ring seals to ensure that the operating threads will be protected from water entry. Dry top design is to include a factory lubricated operating mechanism that allows supplemental lubricant to be added in the field without the removal of the top section. The downward travel of the main rod and valve assembly to the full open position shall be controlled by a travel stop device located in the upper stem section of the rod or have a positive stop in the base of the hydrant shoe. The drain mechanism shall be an integral part of the valve assembly. All internal parts shall be removable through the top of the hydrant when the bonnet has been removed. Hydrants shall comply with the following:

  1. Main Valve Openings - 5.25 inches,
  2. Outlets - 2 - 2.50 inch hose Connections
  3. Operating Nut Size - Pentagon 1.50 inch point to flat,
  4. Thread type - National Standard
  5. Shoe - 6 inch Mechanical Joint (Range 6.90 - 7.10 OD
  6. Direction of Opening - Right Open
  7. Bury Length - 5.5 feet
  8. Height (bury Line to Opening Nut) - 28.75 inches minimum,
  9. Sub-Seat Material - Bronze
  10. Model - Traffic (Breakaway Design),
  11. Color - Safety Blue Body
  12. All chains must be removed. All Hydrants shall have a permanently mounted marking device approved by the Department.

6.12 Cover Over Pipe
Pipe shall have five (5) feet of cover measured to finish grade of the street. Pipe to be hand covered one (1) foot with sand or stone free gravel and compacted and tamped around pipe to give good support and protection.

In case of any excavation, ground water swamps or when any unsuitable materials are encountered, the Contractor shall replace it with good material to provide proper support and alignment of the pipeline. In some cases, the Contractor shall use crushed stone for bedding covered with sand. Trench backfill shall be suitable material taken from excavation, approved common borrow or gravel hauled in. No mud, frozen earth, stones larger than _" or other objectionable materials is to be used for refilling.

6.13 Ledge
All ledges shall be removed to width of two (2) feet or greater than the diameter of the pipe and one (1) foot below the underside of the pipe. A bed of sand shall be placed in the trench prior to laying pipe.

6.14 Blasting Precautions
All blasting shall be completed within a distance of fifty (50) feet from any water service or water main.

6.15 Survey Markers
Survey markers (line and grade) shall be required on all newly proposed streets. Pipes shall be laid within the roadway layout (easement in certain cases) as shown on plans approved by the Harwich Planning & Zoning Board.

6.16 Excavation Within The Limits Of Public Ways
Permission shall be obtained from the Department of Highway's before any excavation can begin within any Town accepted street. The work shall be preformed in accordance with HHD requirements. A street opening permit shall be obtained from Massachusetts Department of Public Works before any excavation can begin on any State Highway. This work shall be preformed in accordance with permit.

6.17 Service Pipes
Each unit shall have its own separate service, consisting of a corporation stop, curb stop, curb box, ball valve as soon as service enters building, meter and remote reader. From curb stop into building shall be the owners responsibility to maintain, they shall only use CTS fittings with CTS pipe, tubing size to meet appropriate size service with a minimum of 200psi bursting pressure to include tracing wire the full length of the service. Water department must inspect each installation prior to being backfilled. The department will not turn water on to any service that has not been inspected.

6.18 Testing of Water Mains
Before acceptance by the Department, the pipe shall be pressure tested and chlorinated in accordance with "Installation of Ductile-Iron Water Mains and Appurtenances" AWWA Designation C600 latest edition. No one shall pressure test or chlorinate an installation without notifying the Department at least 48 hour's prior. An employee of the Department must be present for the duration of pressure test and chlorination to witness and sign results. All pressure test reports shall consist of actual distance of pipe and size, and the number of valves and hydrants. The Town shall furnish the water for disinfection and flushing. Sample of water taken after the disinfection of water pipes shall be delivered to a testing laboratory approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Copies of test results shall be delivered to the Superintendent who shall then determine whether the pipes may be accepted into the Town's water system. Before final approval by the Superintendent an as-built drawings must be submitted to Department.

6.19 Tapping Sleeves & Valves: Gate & Butterfly Valves
Tapping sleeves and valves, gate and butterfly valves shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements of the latest revised AWWA Standards C509-94 and C504-94. Tapping sleeves and valves shall be of the same manufacturer. Gate valves 6" through 12" shall be mechanical joint, bronze mounted, resilient seat wedge type, open left (counterclockwise) with 2" operating nut. Valves over 12" shall be butterfly type only. For the purpose of standardization, tapping sleeves and valves, gate and butterfly valves shall be Mueller.

6.20 Water Main Extensions
All water main installation shall be run to the furthest point of the property line.

6.21 Gate Boxes
Buffalo #5663 slide type 24" top with flange at top of box with 30" bottom. Boxes to be cast iron, bituminous coated with cast iron covers for heavy traffic use. Covers shall be identified with legend "WATER".

6.22 Water Mains on Private Roads
It is the sole responsibility of the residents or owner(s) of private roads to repair and maintain all water mains and appurtenances, ect: valves and hydrants. It is also the responsibility of residents and or owner(s) to maintain sufficient amount of soil coverage over any water main. All water mains are required to maintain a minimum of a 5' depth below finish grade at all times. The Harwich Water Department is not responsible for water mains on private Roads.

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