Connection of a New Water Main
Prior to connection of a new water main, the majority of Water Utility companies require proof that your new main does not leak. Water Utility companies now have strict guidelines and procedures for pressure testing, which means this is not as simple as it might sound. Pressure testing often requires specialist expertise as well as satisfactory evidence, which in most cases requires full data logging and graphical analysis.
Mains Chlorination Ltd provide a full chlorination and pressure testing service for all new mains connections, irrespective of size. We are registered “Approved” by the Energy & Utility Skills Sector Group.
Choose the right contractor and do not opt for the cheapest mains chlorination.
Make sure the contractor you appoint is experienced and qualified in this field of expertise, otherwise you risk procedure failure and as a result your connection date not being achieved.
Ensure you request certification and evidence of the specific engineer due to undertake the works (not the company/contractor the actual engineer themselves). Websites can often portray an “all singing and all dancing” approach. However, it is important to identify who is going to complete the work.
Mains Chlorination Example 1
Mains Chlorination Ltd was appointed to a project recently where the previously appointed contractor failed to complete the works correctly. As a result, the connection date was cancelled and the venue was forced to cancel a wedding (the first event following the handover of the building by the main contractor). This was a decision of poor procurement and resulted in a substantial insurance claim and a lot of bad feelings.
Mains Chlorination Example 2
Mains Chlorination Ltd was appointed to a contractor in West Yorkshire (the contractor nor the client cannot be named for legal reasons). Chlorination works were completed by a different water hygiene company only weeks earlier. Following the work, the client began receiving water heater failures within the building. The number of failures began increasing as the days went on, which triggered an investigation as to why this was happening. The investigation confirmed severe corrosion damage and pitting to the individual units themselves along with a strong aroma of chlorine once the units had been removed and inspected.
The outcome was proved to be due to poor workmanship by the water hygiene contractor. The case was taken to court and the client was eventually awarded a claim in excess of twenty thousand pounds for the damages caused plus legal fees. The lesson here is you must ask the question “who is doing the actual work?” A website and company can demonstrate a world of expertise, however, if an inexperienced technician is appointed with little guidance and training to undertake the chlorination works the results can be huge and costly.
Pressure Testing Analysis
Type 2
Polyethylene pipelines are hydrostatically pressure tested in order to determine the integrity of the pipeline to test for leaks. This requires specialist analysis due to ‘creep’ values and not water loss. Mains Chlorination Ltd are experienced and approved by the Energy & Utility Skills Sector Group for the assessment of PE materials and deliver certification & analysis reports that comply with the latest versions of Industry guidance notes.
Type 1
Type 1 Test is more suited to ridged pipe material, such as ductile Iron, stainless steel and glass-reinforced plastic. Materials that do not exhibit creep damage. The test involves measuring the volumes of water lost during a test period.
10 Minute Test
The Ten Minute Test is devised for situations where a very short test time is required. It is suitable for testing polyethylene pipes often laid with the pipe-busting technique where water supply needs to be reconnected as quickly as possible.
Rather than measuring the pressure loss within the pipeline over a minimum of one hour, the Ten Minute Test maintains the pressure for a ten minute duration. The amount of water added is recorded to indicate the pressure changes within the pipeline. The joints must also be visually inspected for leakage during the ten minute test period.
