[Adopted 5-21-1991]
To clarify the policy of the Water Department of the Town of Groton
concerning various matters, including the construction of loops and the avoidance
of dead ends in mains and the location of fire hydrants in developments to
be served with water by the Town, the following regulations are this day adopted
by vote of the Commissioners. These regulations constitute no change in policy
and are promulgated solely to remove any ambiguity that might otherwise be
perceived by and/or interpreted by developers.
All new or replacement service connections from distribution mains or
pipes of the Water Department to private dwellings, housing or other developments
shall be constructed of materials, at depth, bedding and other details as
specified by the Water Department, up to and including the meter. Installation
shall be performed and tested under direction of the Water Department or its
designated engineering representative and approved by the same before trenching
is backfilled and again after witnessing successful pressure tests and chlorination
tests.
All plans for connections from a distribution pipe of the Department
to a commercial or industrial development, or to a residential development
of more than one single or duplex residence with street frontage on the main
for each service connection shall be submitted in advance for approval by
the Department. Any changes in specifications, including but not limited to
materials, valves, tees, hydrants, meters, loops or multiple connections to
the Department's mains necessary to avoid dead ends, which, in the sole judgment
of the Department, should be required, shall be incorporated in the plans
and so constructed. If changes become necessary, new as-constructed plans
shall be furnished promptly to the Department. All other regulations of the
Department not specifically excepted shall apply.
Distribution pipes constructed within a development by a developer to
serve more than one building or to provide fire protection or for both these
purposes shall normally be laid within access roads and become the property
of the Water Department, including easement for access and maintenance upon
completion. Pipes of six inches or larger nominal diameter shall normally
be looped. They shall be maintained for one year by the developer or, in default,
by the Department at the developer's expense. Exceptions shall require specific
approval by the Water Department. All other regulations of the Department
not specifically excepted shall apply.
For fire protection, for flushing of the water system and dead ends
when these are required and/or permitted, the developer may include or the
Water Department may require the installation of one or more fire hydrants.
The Chief of the Groton Fire Department shall be consulted by the developer
with the Water Department upon the specific location and designed flow capacity
of all new hydrant installations. Hydrants shall be served by pipes of six
inches' minimum nominal diameter or from larger diameter mains if necessary
for adequate fire flow. If the water distribution system is unable to deliver
adequate fire flows at a proposed development site under all conditions, as
predicted by computer model or other means by the Water Department and/or
its designated engineer, a developer may be required to provide, or to finance
all or part of the cost of providing, augmentation of flow capacity to the
site by distribution system construction at locations remote from the development,
as a condition for furnishing water to the development.
It is the policy of the Water Department to cooperate with developers
and to make high-quality domestic water and improved fire protection as widely
available as possible to all who want or need it, at the lowest cost consistent
with sound engineering for public health, safety, reliability and future maintenance.
The Commissioners assess costs to new customers, existing customers and the
Town as equitably as our discretionary powers make possible, commensurate
with the benefits provided to each.
Based on the recommendations of the Ductile Iron Pipe Association, the
Groton Water Department has adopted the following regulation:
A.
Any time anyone uses controlled density backfill products,
water main and services will be protected by polyethylene encasement in accordance
with ANSI-AWWA C-105/A21.5.
B.
The plan shall be at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet
and shall show:
(1)
Size and type of water main, hydrants and hydrant gates
installed and their location in the roadways and easements.
(2)
Size and type of water isolation valves, gate boxes,
air vents, chlorine injection points, pressure relief valves, blowoffs and
check valves with triangulation ties to fixed objects above ground.
(3)
Size and type of bends, tees and elbows; size and type
of restrained joint (retainer gland, "mega-lug" and thrust block) with triangulation
ties.
(4)
Size and type of water service lines, service boxes,
curb stops and corporations with triangulation ties from house/building or
aboveground fixed objects to service box and distance from main to box.
Sloping, sheeting or shoring of trenches will be at the contractor's
discretion and as required by applicable governmental laws and regulations.
The contractor shall be responsible for this determination.
