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Section 38 – Sewer and Storm Drain Construction

38-10.01 Tests for Obstructions

Unless otherwise shown or specified in the Contract, all sanitary sewer pipes shall be tested

for obstructions and cleaned by balling and flushing or approved method in accordance with

Section 43, "Cleaning Pipelines", of these Specifications. For balling and flushing an approved

commercial sewer cleaning ball shall be used, which shall be controlled by a tag line or rope, or

sewer rods, and permitted to move slowly through the pipe. Any obstructions or irregularities

shall be removed or repaired by the Contractor. All testing, cleaning and repairing shall be done

to the satisfaction of the Agency. The Contractor shall provide all necessary materials and

utilities for the tests and shall dispose of all waste, including water, at the Contractor’s expense.

The water shall not be allowed to enter the existing sanitary sewer system.

Unless otherwise indicated in the Contract, balling and flushing or other approved methods

for cleaning storm drains shall not be required unless visual inspection by television or lamping

indicates obstructions in the line.

38-10.02 Tests for Leakage

All leakage tests shall be completed and approved at finished subgrade and prior to placing

When leakage or infiltration exceeds the amount allowed by the Specifications, the

Contractor shall locate the leaks and make necessary repairs or replacements in accordance

with the Specifications to reduce the leakage or infiltration to the specified limits, at the

Contractor’s expense. Any individually detectable leaks shall be repaired, regardless of the

results of the tests.

Leakage tests for storm drains shall be required when indicated in the Contract, when

inferior materials or construction methods are used, or when visual inspection by television or

lamping indicates a potential for leakage. All or any sections of sewer lines, including storm

drains and force mains which the Agency may select, shall be tested by the Contractor by either

of the following methods:

38-10.02.A Air Test for Leakage - Sewer

The air test for leakage for gravity sewer shall be in accordance with ASTM C 828. The

installer may use this test as a presumptive test to determine the condition of the line prior to

backfilling, however, only lines tested after backfilling to final grade will be considered for

The Contractor shall furnish all necessary equipment and is responsible for conducting

all low-pressure air tests. The Contractor shall perform any necessary repair work on pipeline

segments that do not pass any or all of the tests, at no additional cost to the Agency. No

sealant shall be used in any newly installed sewer line without the prior written approval of the

Agency. Using sealant in a sewer line is not the equivalent of a sound sewer pipe. Proper

structural repair work will be required by the Agency.

38-10.02.A.(1) Procedure

Air tests for leakage for sewers shall follow the procedures outlined in Sections 38-

10.02.C.(1) through 38-10.02.C.(5)(d).

38-10.02.A.(2) Test Time

Table 38-2 shows the required test time, T, in minutes per one hundred feet of pipe for each

nominal pipe size. Test times are for a 1.0-psi (7 kPa) pressure drop from 3.5 to 2.5 psi (24 to

17 kPa). The criteria in Table 38-2 were calculated using the following formulas:

Minimum test time (T) at a given allowable air loss (Q):