Here I am

Question on testing a new water main.

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Omaha Steaks...........

TDR " Members Pets" Thread

This is for the waterguys/engineers. I'm project manager on a shared trench, gas/water replacement project. My background is in the natural gas biz hence my ignorance.



The water contractor is having problems getting a test on the app. 3500' of 12" ductile and 1500' of 8" ductile we've installed this summer. Take it to 200psi, next morning it's down to 100psi. Looks like a leak to me. We tested our 8" PE gas at 1. 5 times maop (95psig actually), 24hrs later, no drop. No leak. Simple.



Water guy keeps saying it's air in the lines and after it's flushed out, no problem. But he can't explain how if the air (that is likely still in since we can't flush one hydrant) is compressed to 200psi, it can cause a drop without a leak, just claims it does. I can see it mixing with the water, makes it look like milk. But if no leak, why the pressure drop? I'm thinking he has a gasket rolled a bit in a joint and once the pressure drops, it quits leaking.



?????????????



Thanks, RJR
 
Last edited:
I work for a Municipality in the water dept. If he is using ductile iron for feed then he only needs to pressure test to 120% of rated pressure. DI piping is connected with compression fittings that are torque rated for PSI. I have never seen a connection at 165 PSI. Mains are usualy set 90 or 100 PSI, branch feeds are 40 to 75 PSI. At 200 PSI he will need to back gasket the rubber seal and o-ring all slip-fit coulpings.

Another thing he can do is charge the system and then pressure test it. Fluid pressure will hold better than gaseous pressure. Hope this helps. Mike
 
Mike, this system operates at 100psi, a few blocks away they have a system with a OP of 175psi, and yelp, all services have regulators. The town has quite a bit of elevation change and a new big water tank on top of tall ridge.
 
Here's a link to a bid spec for DI pipeline with test procedure and allowable leak rate. I believe it is based on the AWWA recommended procedures.



Pressure test
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top