Usda Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE SPECIFICATION ARIZONA

PIPELINE (acre) CODE NO. 516

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 1 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989 1. SCOPE Steel pipe shall conform to the requirements of ASTM-A-120 or The work shall consist of excavation, backfill AWWA C-202. Joints and fittings and furnishing and installing plastic or steel shall have strength equal to or pipe complete with all fittings and greater than that of the pipe. All appurtenances, as required to construct the buried steel pipe and fittings shall be pipeline. protected from corrosion. Protection 2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS shall consist of galvanizing, coal-tar enamel (AWWA C-203), wrapped A. Materials with plastic tape, or cathodic protection as approved by the (1) Plastic Pipe Engineer. a. Plastic pipe shall (3) Trenching and Installation conform to the requirements of ASTM-D-2282, D-2239 or D- Trenching shall be to a depth, grade 2241, respectively, for and dimension as shown on the Acrylonitrile-Butodiene-Styrene drawings. The pipeline shall be (ABS), Polyethlene (PE), and placed so it is protected from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). hazards imposed by traffic, farming Plastic pipe shall have a operations, freezing temperatures, minimum pressure rating of 80 or soil cracking. Where rocks, psi. Plastic pipe likely to be used hardpan or other sharp-edged for delivery of water for human materials which might damage the consumption shall be NSF pipe are encountered, the trench approved. Steel clamps for shall be over-excavated a minimum plastic pipe shall be stainless of 4 inches and backfilled with sand steel. or fine-grained soil. Where shallow soils over bedrock or boulders b. Marking on plastic pipe (larger than 1 foot in diameter) are meeting any of the above encountered, the depth of cover standards shall include: may be reduced to a minimum - the nominal pipe size; depth of 6 inches if approved by the e.g., 2 inches Engineer. - the type of plastic pipe Unless otherwise approved by the material in accordance with the Engineer, plastic pipelines placed designation as shown above; on bedrock or bounders exposed at e.g., PE2305. ground surface shall have a minimum of 10 feet top width and - the pressure rating in 6;1 side slopes. Where cover or psi for water at 23° C (73.4° F). mounding cannot be provided in - the standard rocky areas, steel pipe shall be designation with which the pipe provided and shall be placed above complies. ground. Drains shall be installed in low spots. Plastic pipe shall be - the manufacturer’s protected from direct sunlight during name (or trademark) and code, storage and prolonged installation, spaced at intervals of not more and shall be allowed to come within than 5 feet. a few degrees of the temperature - the seal of approval of that it will have after complete the National Sanitation covering. Plastic pipelines may be Foundation (NSF), or of some placed by “plow-in” equipment other accredited laboratory, if to where rocks and boulders will not be be used for human detrimental to the pipe. “Plow-in consumption. shall be to a depth shown on the drawings. (2) Steel Pipe

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 2 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989 (4) Testing a. Steel Pipe: Backfill material to 6 inches above the pipe shall be Pipelines shall be pressure tested free of rocks greater than 2 by one of the following methods:: inches in diameter and shall be a. The pipeline shall be thoroughly and compacted to a density at least completely tested for leaks at a equal to the natural density in minimum head of 10 feet or at the trench sidewalls. The design working head, whichever is remainder of the backfill shall be greater, before backfill operations placed ina manner to begin. The line shall be filled with completely fill the trench so water, taking care to bleed all there will be no unfilled spaces. entrapped air in the process. The Construction equipment may be pressure shall be slowly brought up used for compaction after 6 to operating pressure. The line shall inches of compacted backfill be inspected in its entirety while the material yas been placed. operating pressure is monitored. All b. Plastic and Copper Pipe: leaks shall be repaired and the test Backfilling shall be performed repeated prior to backfilling. In some only after the pipe reaches the cases, it may be necessary to temperature of the soil or water. partially backfill (blinding) the line Backfill material to 6 inches before testing to hold the line in above the pipe shall be free of place. Blinding shall consist of rocks greater than 1 inch in placing a maximum of 6 inches of diameter or other sharp-edged backfill material over the pipe material that would damage the sections, leaving all joints and pipe. This initial backfill shall be connections uncovered for compacted to a density at least inspection purposes. equal to the natural density in b. Pressure test at the working the trench sidewalls. The pressure for 2 hours. The remainder of the backfill shall be allowable leakage shall not placed in a manner to be greater than one gallon completely fill the trench so per diameter inch per mile. there will be no unfilled spaces Should the test exceed this in the backfill. Construction rate, the defect shall be equipment may be used for repaired until retests show compaction after a minimum of the leakage is within 12 inches of backfill installed by allowable limits, except that “plow in” shall be surface all visible leaks shall be compacted and shaped. repaired. (6) Related Structures (5) Backfilling All appurtenant structures shall be The pipe shall be uniformly and installed as designed and at the continuously supported. Blocking or location shown in the plans and mounding shall not be used to shall meet the Natural Resources support the pipe. The pipeline shall Conservation Service’s not be placed in service until after all specifications for the appropriate backfilling is completed. Backfilling structure. shall be completed in a manner that (7) Cleanup will leave the fill at ground level after settlement has taken place.

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 3 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989 General appearance at the site shall c. Pipe and fitting be left with a neat, workmanlike materials used shall be PE 3408 appearance. Backfill after settlement as per ASTM-D-3350 and shall shall be similar in appearance to be manufactured in accordance existing surrounding ground surface with ASTM-D-2239 adjacent to the trench. Loose rock Polyethylene (PE) plastic pipe shall not be windrowed along the (SIDR-PR) Based on controlled pipeline, but shall be removed, inside diameter, or ASTM-D- buried or spread to blend with the 3035 Polyethylene (PE) plastic surrounding ground surface. Waste pipe (SDR-PR) based on materials (tires, oil filters, scrap controlled outside diameter lumber, etc.), forms and (also referred to as IPS (Iron construction equipment shall be Pipe size)) pipe. The pipe shall removed from the site. not exceed 4 inches in diameter. All pipe will be NSF approved. (8) Certification and Guarantee The design pressure of the The Contractor shall certify that his pipeline will not exceed 50% of installation complies with the the pressure rating of the pipe. requirements of this specification. Pipe and fittings with a minimum He shall furnish a guarantee of pressure rating of 200 psi will be workmanship and installation for a used. The pipe shall be marked period of not less than one year. as described in Section 4 of this specification. The pipe shall be (9) Variance for Plastic Pipe black with 2% minimum carbon black. The pipe shall contain no A variance is permitted to allow the recycled compounds except that use of high density polyethylene generated in the manufacturer’s (HDPE) pipe above ground. The own plant from resin of the variance is subject to the following same specification from the conditions: same raw material supplier.

a. Variance is granted to d. The planner and the continue until further notice. cooperator shall be advised of the potential hazard imposed by b. Above ground fire to the material installed on installations will be used only in ground surface. those situations where rock or steep slopes limit alternatives. e. High temperature is detrimental to an above ground plastic pipeline. All pipelines, particularly for high pressure applications, shall be placed, as far as practicable, to minimize exposure to the sun. When feasible, cover the pipeline with loose dirt or other non-abrasive material. Install the pipeline on the north side of a ridge and under trees or brush to provide shade when possible.

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 4 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989 f. Above ground pipelines i. The heating effect of shall be installed in a slightly direct sunlight on a black snaked pattern to allow for pipeline, with no water flowing, thermal expansion and can raise the temperature of the contraction. Allow at least 12” pipe and the water within the extra length per 100 feet of pipe to 50°F above the ambient pipeline. air temperature.

g. Piping shall be joined in The generally used upper limit accordance with the of pipeline temperature for manufacturers recommend- pressure applications shall be dations for the particular pipe to 140° F. The area engineer shall be installed. Piping can be approve all pressure pipelines joined either mechanically or located in a desert environment thermally. The preferred method that are exposed to direct is to use butt fusion welding. sunlight and are subject to Metal insert fittings shall be sustained ambient air used for all clamp or band-type temperatures of 100° F or fittings to prevent pipe collapse. higher with no water flowing. The inserts shall be galvanized steel, brass, or stainless steel. 3. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Double banding or double Installation shall be in accordance with the clamping with the heads offset following drawings, specifications and 90° to 180° shall be used for all special requirements. NO CHANGES ARE insert fittings. The ends shall be TO BE MADE IN THE DRAWINGS OR heated either with hot water or a SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT PRIOR hot air gun. Heating by open APPROVAL OF NRCS. flame is discouraged. Avoid excessive heating (above 240° F) or open flame contact with Other Requirements the pipe. All damaged pipe ends shall be removed before joining. The pipe shall be allowed to cool before clamps or bands are 4. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS installed. Plan Map showing location Designs showing alignment, width, side h. Although HDPE PE slopes, drainage, erosion control, surfacing, 3408 pipe is not damaged by traffic safety, and construction operations. freezing, other components in Drawings, No. the line may be susceptible to freeze damage. All fittings, gauges, pumps, valves and 5. OTHER ATTACHMENTS other components that need Associated Practice Specifications protection shall be adequately protected from freezing. Water Quality Considerations Pipelines with pumps shall Other employ safety pressure release valves if needed to ensure the pipe is not over-pressured as a 6. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE result of freeze blockage in the This conservation practice is an asset to pipeline. your farm or ranch. This practice will need periodic operation and maintenance to maintain satisfactory performance. The life of this practice or system is at least 10 years. The life of this practice can be assured or extended by thorough and timely

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 5 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989 operation and maintenance. Here are some recommendations to help you develop a good operation and maintenance program. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS Maintain the roadway surface in a good condition, which includes periodic grading or repair of the surface.

Prevent surface ponding by grading to remove depressions.

Limit livestock usage to periods that permit use without damage.

If fences are installed, they shall be maintained to provide warning and/or prevent unauthorized human or livestock entry.

Remove debris to prevent blockage of stream crossings, culverts or bridges.

Control all rodents or burrowing animals. Immediately repair any damage caused by their activity.

Immediately repair any damage from vandalism, vehicles, or livestock.

Specific Recommendations For Your Installation

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV Page 6 of 6 NRCS, Arizona May, 1989