For complete information, see City Standard Specifications Section 4.

General Information

The Public Works Inspector schedules water meter and box installations with the Water Department. Inquiries regarding the installation should be directed to 509-585-4334. Scheduling for taps, main line shutdowns, health and pressure tests and the like should be coordinated with the City Inspector assigned to the project. See City of Kennewick Standard Specifications Section 4 for contractor requirements.

Water Meters Requirements

• Water meters should be placed as close to mainlines as possible in a landscaped or protected area and on the opposite side of the lot from power installations. A grade stake with finished grade shall be placed at the meter box installation site.
• All water meters shall be single services. Service lines will be sized per City Standard Specification 4-3. Water meter must be placed in an accessible location for reading and maintenance.
• A separate metered water service must be provided to each lot.
• Water meters shall enter and exit meter boxes and vaults at opposite ends of the vaults. There shall be no piping direction changes within the box or vault.
• All private plumbing shall be installed outside of the meter box.
• Owner/developer will be required to relocate existing meter, if new driveway is located over meter.
• When a project requires a fire line and a water meter(s), each type of service will require a separate tap from the city water main.

Water & Sewer Requirements

Water/Sewer service construction is to be completed by the Developer per the requirements of City of Kennewick Standard Specifications Section 4. Inquiries regarding scheduling should be directed to the City Inspector assigned to the project. One and a half, or two inch water meters shall be served from the mainline by a 2-inch, polyethylene service line with a 2-inch copper tubing riser and corporation stop in accordance with City of Kennewick Standard Specifications Section 4 and City Standard Drawing 4-30.

Live Tapping

Live tapping for water service installations of 3-inch and larger are to be tapped by City Crews at the Developer's expense. The Developer shall provide approved materials and install the saddle and valve prior to tapping by the City Crew. Trench excavation, bedding and backfill are also the Developer's responsibility. Inquiries regarding scheduling should be directed to the City Inspector assigned to the project.

All 3-inch service lines will be tapped 4-inch and a 4-inch flange by flange resilient seated gate valve installed at the mainline. Per the requirements of City Standard Drawing 4-5, the maximum tap to an existing water line is not to exceed 50% of the main diameter on A.C. or P.V.C. pipe; or more than 75% of the main diameter for steel or ductile iron pipe. Maximum tap for cross not to exceed 50% of main.

Cut-in tee, water main extension and/or service line installation is to be completed by the Developer. Inquiries regarding shutdown scheduling should be directed to the City Inspector assigned to the project.

Fill & Flush Mainline Extensions

Developers will be responsible to fill and flush mainline extensions including operation of newly installed isolation valves. Health Sampling of newly installed waterlines is also the responsibility of the Developer. These procedures will be coordinated through City Inspectors in accordance with the latest specifications installed at the mainline. Per the requirements of City of Kennewick Standard Specifications Section 4.

Waterlines in Right-of-Way

Waterlines in street right-of-way shall be placed a minimum of 3 feet from the curb line. A blow off assembly is required at the end of waterline extensions. See City Standard Drawing installed at mainline per the requirements of: 4-1. Install a minimum of six feet of fire hydrant waterline between isolation valve and fire hydrant assembly. See City Standard Drawing See City Standard Drawing 4-4.

Waterlines & Water Installation Requirements

• Install watermain isolation valves at locations shown on the markup plan. Typical two at each tee and three at each cross.
• A minimum 15-foot easement is required to be centered over all waterlines to be owned by the City, including fire hydrant runs to 5 feet past the hydrant.
• Water / Sewer installations through internal lot easements are not acceptable for City maintained services. Route mainlines to vehicle accessible, or street locations. Where street locations are not feasible, mainlines through vehicle accessible areas may be considered.

Fire Hydrants

Fire hydrants shall be placed within a landscaped, or traffic protected area. If the hydrant cannot be located in this type of area, then guard posts will be required per City Standard Drawing 4-4, Sheet 2 of 2.

Existing Services / Boxes

• Existing utility services to be abandoned shall be capped, concrete plugged, or removed prior to backfilling.
• If existing valve boxes are substandard, they shall be replaced with City Standard valve boxes when adjustments are made.
• If the water main is determined by the City to be a critical water system, then the contractor will be required to submit, five working days prior to scheduling a tie-in, a working schedule to the Water Department for approval, including starting time, duration and manpower.

Fire Lines

• A soft seat check valve is required, after the mainline valve, if there is more than fifty (50) feet of fire line from the backflow device to the main line valve.
• A four-inch flanged valve is required at the water service mainline tee and a separate isolation valve is required ahead of the fireline check valve assembly.
• Installation of a water service off a fire hydrant line requires the installation of a 6-inch isolation valve at least 6 feet from the hydrant and downstream of the water service tap.

Cross Connect Control

• Some projects may fall under the fire system retrofit program of the current Cross Connection Control requirements. Modifications to the on-site backflow prevention devices may be required. Contact the Public Works Utility Supervisor at 509-585-4413 for compliance information.
• All buildings over two stories high require a double check valve assembly be installed downstream of the water meter.
• Contact City Water Department at 509-585-4307, prior to Building Plan submittal, regarding backflow prevention requirements.