SECTION III

DESIGN CRITERIA
FOR
POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

SECTION III
DESIGN CRITERIA
FOR
POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Water system improvements proposed for inclusion into the District's Service Area shall be designed in
accordance with all appropriate AWWA standards and the following criteria:

A.

SYSTEM DEMAND CRITERIA

District staff reserves the right to determine criteria for each water system or sub-system based
upon conditions that may exist for that particular location, anticipated level of development,
planned use, or other criteria. In general, water pipelines, tanks, pump stations, pressure reducing
stations, and appurtenances shall be sized to handle the highest demand on the system within the
sphere of influence and shall provide capacity for the maximum hourly flow and the maximum
daily flow plus fire flow.

1.

Water System Unit Demands

Average Day Demand (ADD) is the average amount of water needed by a classification
of user and shall be defined as follows:

Land Use
Single Family Units with Lots Less than 20,000 Square Feet

Average
Day Demand
(ADD)
700 gpd

Single Family Units with Lots Equal to or Greater than 20,000

Square Feet

1,100 gpd

Light Commercial

2,000 gpd/acre

Industrial

4,000 gpd/acre

Schools and Parks

4,000 gpd/acre

gpd=gallons per day

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Where use of recycled water is required by the District, the water demand shall be
divided as follows (see Section IV for Recycled Water System Design criteria):
Average Day
Potable Water
Demand
(ADD)

Land Use

Average Day
Recycled Water
Demand
(ADD)

Single Family Units with Lots Less than

20,000 Square Feet

280 gpd

420 gpd

Single Family Units with Lots Equal to

or Greater than 20,000 Square Feet

330 gpd

770 gpd

Light Commercial

1,600 gpd/acre

400 gpd/acre

Industrial

3,200 gpd/acre

800 gpd/acre

Schools and Parks

1,200 gpd/acre

2,800 gpd/acre

gpd=gallons per day

2.

Peaking Factors
Maximum Day Demand (MDD) shall equal 200 percent of the average day demand.
Peak Hour Demand (PHD) shall equal 400 percent of the average day demand.
Domestic water supplies shall be designed to produce 125 percent of the maximum day
demand.

3.

Fire Flows
The following fire flows shall be used for District planning and design purposes unless
the local (approving) fire department stipulates or requires a different fire flow.
However, the District shall require a minimum of 1,500 gallons per minute for duration
of two hours as a minimum residential or commercial fire flow.

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Type of Structure

Flow
(gpm)

Duration
(Hours)

Number
of Fire
Hydrants

Detached Single Family (Residential)

1,500

Attached Multi-Family (Residential)*

3,000

Light Commercial/Industrial
(including schools)

3,000

Heavy Commercial/Industrial

5,000

* Ten or more units per acre

Water pipelines to all Service Areas shall be looped to provide dual direction supply and system
flexibility.

Dead end transmission mains are undesirable, but will be considered on a

case-by-case basis.

B.

SYSTEM ANALYSIS

1.

Static Requirements
The minimum static pressure shall be 50 pounds per square inch (psi) at the highest water
fixture within the proposed structures (e.g. 15 feet above pad elevation for two story
structures, 7 feet above pad elevation for one story structures), said pressure being
measured with the supply reservoir 1/2 full. The maximum static pressure at proposed
building pads shall be 125 psi with the supply reservoir full.

2.

Operating Requirements
The proposed water system shall be analyzed for the following three conditions:
a.

Peak Hour Demands with Booster Pumping Plants On

For the peak hour demand flow analysis, the pressure at each service shall be a
minimum of 40 psi and a maximum of 125 psi at the proposed pad elevations
with the supply reservoir 1/2 full. The maximum velocity in the pipelines shall
be 7.0 feet per second (fps).

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b.

Maximum Day Demand Plus Fire Flow with Booster Pumping Plants Off
For the maximum day demand plus fire flow analysis, fire flow should be
selected for the worst-case scenario (typically the hydrant furthest from the
connection(s) to District's distribution system, at the highest system elevation)
and as directed by District staff. The pressure at all locations within the proposed
system shall be a minimum of 20 psi with the supply reservoir 1/2 full and the
maximum velocity in the pipelines shall be 10.0 fps.

c.

Minimum Hour Demands with Wells and Boosters On

For the minimum hour demand analysis, the maximum velocity in the pipelines
shall be 5.0 fps and the maximum pressure at each node shall be 125 psi.

The Developer's engineer will be required to submit an analysis of anticipated flow demands,
average, peak hour flow, and maximum day plus fire flow. District will accept or modify the
submitted analysis.

C.

WATER PIPELINE SIZING CRITERIA

Minimum size water pipeline is 8 inch inner diameter (I.D.).
For peak hourly flow, pipeline shall be sized to provide a residual pressure of 40 psi and a
maximum velocity of 7.0 fps.
For the maximum daily flow plus fire flow, pipeline shall be sized to provide a residual pressure
of 20 psi within the entire proposed system and maximum velocity of 10.0 fps.
The capacity of water mains shall be determined by using the Williams and Hazen Formula with
a "C" factor of 120.
District staff reserves the right to specify sizing of any water pipeline. For master planning
purposes, District staff may require a larger size pipeline than normally required for a particular

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project to satisfy the District's design standards for system distribution. The District's Board of
Directors may authorize participation and payment of increased cost of such water pipeline in
accordance with the District's criteria.
D.

WATER PIPELINE LOCATION

Unless otherwise approved by District staff, all water pipelines shall be located on the southerly
or westerly side of the street, 7.0 feet from curb face or berm. Location shall not interfere with
other existing utilities.
The cover over the water pipeline shall be sufficient to provide protection of the water pipeline
and for the operation of the appurtenances. The depth shall be 3.0 feet from the ground surface
(pavement, graded travel way, or open ground) to the top of the water pipeline for 8 inch pipe and
12 inch pipe. For water pipeline 14 inch or larger, the depth shall be 3.5 feet. District staff may
increase or decrease this required depth as necessary to cover non-standard conditions. Minimum
slope of water pipelines shall be 0.5 percent unless otherwise authorized by District staff. Where
parallel pipelines are proposed (generally at pressure breaks), pipeline depths shall be staggered
with the higher pressure pipeline being located above the lower pressure pipeline.

E.

CURVE DATA
Water pipeline joints shall not be pulled more than 60 percent of the manufacturer's
recommended offset. The minimum bending radius for water pipelines are as follows:
Pipe
Diameter

Allowable
Pipe Deflection

DIP (18' JTS)

Min. Radius (ft)

8"

313'

320

12"

313'

320

16"

29'

480

Where a smaller radius of curvature is required, pipe stick lengths shall be reduced or fittings
shall be used.

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F.

OTHER UTILITIES
Water pipeline installation near sewer lines shall be in accordance with State of California,
Regulations Related to Drinking Water, Title 22, Chapter 16, California Waterworks Standards or
the District's criteria, whichever is most restrictive. In general, water pipelines should cross
perpendicular to sewer and recycled water pipelines a minimum of 1 foot above. If water
pipeline crosses beneath the sewer or recycled water pipeline, it shall comply with the State
Regulations and plans shall be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Public
Health. Water pipelines parallel to sewer pipelines shall be located a minimum of 10 feet (outside
to outside) from the sewer pipeline. Water pipelines parallel to recycled water pipelines shall be
located a minimum of 4 feet (outside to outside) from the recycled pipelines.
When crossing other utilities, a minimum vertical clearance of 6 inches shall be provided (outside
to outside).

G.

WATER PIPELINE MATERIALS

Unless otherwise authorized by District staff, all water pipelines shall be ductile iron pipe,
Class 350 (Class 300 for 16 inch diameter and larger) in accordance with the District's standards
unless conditions dictate the use of CML/CMC welded steel pipe.

H.

VALVES

1.

Location

Small water pipelines (12 inch diameter and smaller): To provide flexibility of
operation, generally located on discharge side of pipeline connections; 1 at 90 degree
bends, 3 at tees, 4 at crosses, and at beginning of dead end mains.

Large water pipelines (14 inch diameter and larger): To be determined for each
system to meet operational requirements.

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If one of the options above does not apply, valves shall be spaced at 1,000 foot
maximum intervals or as directed by the District.

2.

Type

For 8 inch and 12 inch diameter pipelines, use full line size gate valves. For 14 inch
and larger pipelines, use full line size butterfly valves.

Unless otherwise provided for, all valves 2 inches through 12 inches shall be resilient seat gate
valves in accordance with AWWA Standard C509.
Valves shall be installed with valve can and cover as shown on the District's Standard Drawings.
Pressure class rating shall be minimum 250 psi.

I.

COMBINATION AIR VACUUM AND AIR RELEASE VALVES

Combination air vacuum valves shall be located at all high points of water pipelines and, for
transmission facilities, at maximm 2,000 foot intervals (even if not at a high point). Minimum
size of air valves shall be 1 inch and shall be sized as follows:
Air Valve Size (Minimum)
1"
2"
4"

Pipeline Diameter
8" & 12"
16", 20", & 24"
30"

In phased tract development, air valves shall be located at the end of the pipeline as dictated by
the phasing plan. When additional phases are constructed, the air valve shall be removed unless it
is required by one of the criteria listed above.

J.

BLOWOFF VALVE ASSEMBLIES

Blowoffs shall be in accordance with the District's Standard Drawings, located behind the curb
face at right angles to the water pipeline. Blowoffs shall be located at all low points of the
pipeline, and at all dead-ends or terminal points. Where possible, fire hydrants shall be used in

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place of blowoffs. Where possible, isolated low points shall be located at fire hydrant tees;
otherwise, blowoff valves are required.
Minimum size of permanent blowoffs shall be 4 inches for mainlines 12 inches or less, and
6 inches for mainlines larger than 12 inches. Minimum size of temporary blowoffs shall be
2 inches.

K.

FIRE HYDRANTS
Design per requirements of the fire protection agency having jurisdiction (Counties or Cities).
Developer's engineer shall obtain hydrant location and spacing information from the governing
fire protection agency.
Fire hydrants shall be in accordance with the District's Standard Drawings, installed behind the
curb face at right angles to the water pipeline.

L.

SERVICE INSTALLATIONS
Services shall be in accordance with the District's Standard Drawings unless otherwise approved
in writing by District staff. One inch service runs shall be provided for 3/4 inch and 1 inch
meters, and 2 inch service runs shall be provided for 1-1/2 inch and 2 inch meters. One inch and
2 inch service runs shall be copper.
Separate service installations are required for potable service, recycled water service (where
applicable), and fire sprinklers (where applicable). If residential units are served by both potable
and recycled water services, potable service runs may be reduced to 3/4 inch diameter.

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M.

CORROSIVE SOIL
Ductile iron pipelines shall be encased in polyethylene bags unless a report is provided, prepared
by a qualified corrosion consultant, indicating encasement is not required.

N.

BACKFLOW PREVENTION
Where District's Domestic Water System has the potential of becoming cross-connected to other
water supplies or sources, an approved backflow prevention device is required by Title 17,
Drinking Water Supplies, of the California Administrative Code, and shall be installed in
accordance with District's Standard Drawings and approved materials list. A certified backflow
tester shall test the backflow device and submit the report for final approval by the District prior
to use of the service. An approved backflow prevention device is required for all fire service
connections. For further information, see District's backflow ordinance. A backflow device is
required on the potable service for all residential sites that are served by both potable and
recycled water.

All non-residential water services shall have a District approved backflow

prevention device installed adjacent to meter.

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