For use in the Denver Water Service Area

The Board Of Water Commissioners
Denver Water

Engineering Standards
Chapter 3 – Service Lines And Appurtenances

3.01 General:

Water is conveyed from mains to Customers by service lines and their appurtenances. In the context of these Standards, service lines include all pipe and fittings up to and including the stop and waste valve in the residence for outside meter settings, and up to and including the valve at the downstream side of the meter for inside settings as shown on Sheets 48 and 50 of the Standard Drawings. All water pipe beyond service lines shall be controlled by the local plumbing codes.

All new or replacement service lines and appurtenant fittings installed in areas being supplied with recycled or potable water from Denver Water shall conform to the following minimum standards which shall be binding regardless of the regulations of any other agency covering like installations.

The corporation stop, the meter, and that portion of the service line between the meter and the corporation stop and 5 feet past the meter shall all be of the same size. From this point through the inside valve, service lines may be increased one pipe size.

3.02 Ownership And Maintenance:

Chapters 6, 7, and 9 of the Operating Rules of the Board of Water Commissioners deal extensively with ownership, installation, and maintenance of service lines, meters, and appurtenances. These Engineering Standards are intended to be supplemental and subordinate to the Operating Rules and will be so construed in any conflicting situations.

A. Ownership: The service line and fittings through which a licensee receives water service from the facilities of Denver Water shall be owned by and installed at the expense of the licensee.

B. Maintenance: The owner shall maintain all privately owned piping except as set forth under the referenced Operating Rules. This shall include the service line and all fittings and fixtures, except the water meter.

The curb stop, service box, and meter pit shall be kept conveniently accessible from street side and shall be clear of trees, shrubs, and bushes a minimum of two feet around the meter pit, in good working order, and properly capped and clean of debris. Any box or pit not conforming to these Standards shall be cleaned, repaired or relocated by the owner of the premises within a reasonable time after notification by Denver Water. Failure by the owner to comply may cause Denver Water to do the necessary maintenance work and charge the cost to the premises served.

C. Frozen Service Lines and Stub-In Connections: Denver Water will not be responsible for the thawing of frozen service lines or appurtenances or repair to stub-in connections installed to permit street paving.

D. Repair Services Available:

  Inside Denver And Total Service Areas:

Denver Water will provide limited repair services to the segment of the service line located between the main and the outlet side of the curb stop or where no curb stop has been installed, the valve in the meter pit or the property line as appropriate. This service shall be made available only to licensed premises located inside of Denver or the Total Service Areas and shall consist of the following:

1. The repair of leaks on service lines with curb stops, which originate between the water main and the outlet side of the curb stop.

2. The repair of leaks on service lines having outside meter setting and no curb stop originating between the water main and the outlet side of the meter.

3. The repair of leaks on service lines not having curb stops or outside meter setting which originate between the water main and the customer's property line.

4. The repair of leaks on service lines connected to privately owned firelines as set forth above in addition to leaks originating on the fireline between the main and the inlet side of the fireline property line valve.

Denver Water shall in no instance perform the repairs described above unless Denver Water has actual notice of the leak and Denver Water determines that sufficient manpower and equipment are available to make the repairs. Any service line items replaced or installed by Denver Water while repairing a leak on a segment of the service line maintained by Denver Water, shall become the property of the owner of the premises.

The customer shall retain total responsibility for repair of all leaks from any segment of the service line or its appurtenances, which are not within the boundaries described above. Any such leak shall be repaired by a licensed and bonded plumber, without delay, at the owner's expense. In the event the leak is of a serious nature or has not been repaired within a reasonable time, the service line may be shut off at either the curb stop or the main and service discontinued until the service line has been repaired.

  Master Meter And Read And Bill Distributor Contract Areas:

The customer shall retain total responsibility for repair of all leaks from any segment of the service line or its appurtenances. Any such leak shall be repaired by a licensed and bonded plumber, without delay, at the owner's expense. In the event the leak is of a serious nature or has not been repaired within a reasonable time, the service line may be shut off at either the curb stop or the main and service discontinued until the service line has been repaired.

3.03 Layout:

The general arrangement of all service lines shall be as follows:

A. Location: That portion of the service line between the main and the property line or stop box shall be in a continuous straight line perpendicular to the main.

The main to be tapped must extend a minimum distance of 8 feet along the front lot line of the property to be served, and the service line connection and service must be a minimum of 5 feet into the lot.

In the case of corner lots the property may be served from the side lot line under the same regulations as above.

If service is requested for lots at the end of a cul-de-sac street, the main to be tapped must be not more than 50 feet from any property line in the cul-de-sac. The service line between the main and the property line shall be in a continuous straight line and shall enter the property a minimum distance of 5 feet from the nearest lot corner.

B. Depth: All service lines shall be installed at least 4-1/2 feet below the official street grade and in all other places at least 4-1/2 feet below the surface of the ground. If, in the judgment of Denver Water, the topography of the area indicates the advisability thereof, the service line shall be installed at lower depths.

If, after a service line has been installed, the grade of the surface of the ground is lowered, the property owner shall have a licensed and bonded plumber lower or relocate his service line so as to maintain a minimum cover of 4-1/2 feet.

C. Compaction: Backfill material shall be carefully compacted in accordance with the requirements of 7.11.

D. Length: For inside meter settings, that portion of the service line between the main and the meter shall not exceed a horizontal length of 60 feet without approval of Denver Water.

3.04 Separate Trenches:

Service lines may not be installed in trenches containing pipes, which carry any substance other than potable water, and a service line shall be separated laterally from foreign pipes by a minimum of 10 feet.

Exception:

A service line may be placed in the same trench with other pipe provided the following conditions are met:

1. The foreign pipe shall be cast iron or ductile iron.

2. The bottom of the service line shall be at least 12 inches above the top of the foreign pipe and shall be placed on a shelf excavated on one side of the common trench.

3.05 Combination Service Lines:

A property requiring a domestic service line and a fireline connection may be served from a single tap in some cases. The fireline connection shall extend straight from the main to the property line and shall have a gate valve located 2 feet minimum from the property line on the street side of the property line. A tee shall be placed on the fireline connection on the inlet side of the gate valve for the domestic service line. No more than one domestic service connection (tap or tee) shall be installed on a fireline connection. A domestic service tee may not be placed on an existing fireline. See Sheet 36 of the Standard Drawings and 6.37 and 8.17.

3.06 Pumps:

Except where specifically authorized by Denver Water, the installation of pumps designed to increase water pressure in service lines is prohibited.

3.07 Tanks:

Tanks shall not be allowed for the sole purpose of decreasing the size of the tap/meter and service line.

3.08 Connections For Water:

All connections for domestic service taps, 2 inches and smaller, shall be made by Denver Water, unless provided otherwise by contract. Connections will be made only after the release of the mains by Denver Water following completion of the conditions and tests outlined in 8.27, payment of appropriate fees, completion of the tap application papers, and the service line is laid in place from main and up to and including the curb stop by a plumber or a licensed water service contractor. Any excavation necessary for making the connection shall be completed prior to the arrival of Denver Water.

Fireline connections inside Denver and Total Service Areas, greater than 2 inches, shall be made by Denver Water.

Exception:

Contractors installing mains may also install firelines and tee connections for domestic service lines provided the connections involved are larger than 2 inches, and provided that the service line is installed in conjunction with the main extension. Such an installation is subject to proper release of tap application papers, payment of appropriate fees, and approval of the appropriate Fire Protection Bureau. See 8.27 for acceptance of mains.

All domestic service taps larger than 2 inches may be installed by Denver Water or by a Contractor. For Denver Water installed connections, the Contractor shall excavate the ditch and shall excavate around the water main so as to expose it on all sides. Denver Water will provide and install the tapping saddle, tapping sleeve, or cut-in tee at cost. The Contractor shall connect to the outlet, install the piping, set the valve boxes and backfill the trench.

Domestic service lines 2 inches and smaller shall be by corporation stop of the same size as the service line and meter to be installed. Corporation stops shall be as specified in 6.38. Service connections to the main for service lines larger than 2 inches shall be by a tee connection. All tapping materials shall be provided by the Owner.

Domestic service lines of dissimilar metals shall be electrically insulated by means of a Denver Water approved insulating fitting or gasket. Care shall be taken to properly install corporation stops and provide enough slack in service lines to protect against pullout problems.

Under no circumstances is a machined-over-all (MOA) asbestos-cement pipe to receive a corporation stop.

In tapping mains directly, it may be necessary to dig out bedding material and apply two or three wraps of adhesive tape completely around the polyethylene encased pipe to cover the area where the tapping machine and chain will be mounted. This method minimizes possible damage to the polyethylene during the direct tapping procedure. After the tapping machine is mounted, the corporation stop is installed directly through the tape and polyethylene. After the direct tap is completed, the entire circumferential area shall be closely inspected for damage and repaired if needed. Any bedding material removed during excavation shall be replaced in kind and compacted in accordance with 7.10.

3.09 Taps And Saddles:

The size of tap and the tapping method for a given type and size of water line shall be as follows:

Tapping saddles with tap size 2 inches and smaller for ductile iron and asbestos-cement pipe shall consist of a bronze body with 2 bronze straps. Saddles for PVC shall be single strap bronze saddle.

Taps 2 inch and smaller shall not be allowed in PVC pipe which contains water under pressure. In Master Meter and Read and Bill Distributor Contract areas, the Distributor will be given the option to perform the required operations to eliminate pressure to the pipeline being tapped. Denver Water will perform the operations inside Denver and Total Service Areas. A fee per tap will be charged by Denver Water for performing the operations required to eliminate pressure in the PVC pipeline.

Existing steel mains 20 inches in diameter or less, shall be tapped using a method approved by Denver Water.

See MS-22, for further information on tapping saddles.

3.10 Size:

A. General: Taps and service lines shall be of a size, which is adequate to supply all the requirements of the property being served. The minimum size allowable for a service line shall be 3/4 inch.

The tap, corporation stop, meter, and that portion of the service line between the meter and the corporation stop and 5 feet past the meter shall all be of the same size. The service line may be increased beginning 5 feet downstream of the meter to the next approved larger pipe diameter.

The size for a service line shall be defined in terms of headloss as follows: The total pressure drop in the service line from the main to the building shall not exceed 25 psi without backflow prevention or 35 psi with backflow prevention at peak demand (including all minor losses), a minimum residual pressure of 20 psi at the building beyond any back flow prevention and a peak demand not exceeding 80% of the maximum meter capacity.

B. Single Family Residences: The minimum tap size for a single-family residence shall be 3/4 inch.

C. Multi-Family Buildings: In addition to the general requirements, the minimum tap size shall also be based on the number of units per building, as follows:

2-6 units3/4 inch
7-12 units1 inch
13-24 units1-1/2 inch
25-40 units2 inch

Over 40 units will be evaluated on an individual basis. In special circumstances, Denver Water may require a larger minimum tap size. If Distributors require a larger minimum tap size, the Distributor’s requirement shall apply in lieu of the tap size in this Section.

3.11 Pipe Material:

All service lines supplying water from Denver Water's system shall conform to one of the following specifications. Plastic composite pipe is not an acceptable service line material.

A. Seamless Copper Tube of the type designated in the industry as Type K; soft, shall be used for service lines 3/4 inch through 2 inches.

B. Ductile Iron Pipe conforming to MS-1, and shall be used for all service lines larger than 3 inches.

3.12 Curb Stops, Valves, And Valve Boxes:

A curb stop or gate valve of the same size as the service line and conforming to the following standards shall be installed on every service line at a point at or near the property line. Curb stops 2 inches and smaller shall conform to MS-21. Gate valves 3 inches and larger shall conform to 8.12, MS-4, and MS-4A.

All buried valves and curb stops shall be equipped with a cast iron valve box and large oval base. See 6.12 and MS-11 for valve boxes and 6.40 and MS-22 for curb stop services boxes.

See 6.23 and MS-21 for requirements on valves used with meters.

3.13 Meters:

Meters and appurtenances are discussed in detail in 6.14 through 6.27. Meters which are read for billing purposes by Denver Water shall be owned by, and installed at the expense of, the property owner served by such meter. The exception occurs when the Board installs meters at its own expense to convert unmetered services to metered services. In this case, the meters are owned by the Board.

A. Inside Setting Installation: All inside meter settings shall be equipped with an approved meter, and an Itron Remote ERT with 20-foot signal cable. Inside meter settings are permitted only when the total length of service line from the main to the meter setting does not exceed 60 feet.

B. Outside Setting, Vault Installation: All outside meter settings in vaults, 1-1/2 inch and larger, shall be equipped with an approved meter and an Itron ERT for each meter register. Denver Water shall determine the use of pit ERTs or remote ERTs on a case-by-case basis. All drawings shall be approved by Denver Water’s Customer Service Field Section prior to installation.

C. Outside Setting, Pit Installation: All outside meter settings in pits (5/8 inch, 3/4 inch and one inch) shall be equipped with an approved meter with a direct read register and an Itron ERT.

D. Outside Settings with Remote ERTs: If necessary to obtain drive-by readings from a public street, remote ERTs may be required for outside meter settings. In such cases, an approved signal cable shall be installed in a conduit from the meter setting to the location inside or outside the building designated by Denver Water, and a suitable mounting system provided for the Itron Remote ERT.

If necessary, for obtaining meter readings from a public street, the developer of a new complex may be required to install additional electronic equipment to collect and relay meter reading data. Adequate mounting locations and electric power shall be furnished as required.

Engineering Standards - Chapter 3:
Revised 07-04, Previous Revision 05-02
End