Initial Consultation

 

Prior to any project that would be subject to Planning Board approval, the property owner (or their representative) shall request an Ability to Serve letter from the District (York Water District). The District will require proposed project plans at this stage to assist with the approval process. The plans must indicate elevations and number of individual units and proposed use (commercial and or residential), and whether a fire hydrant or fire service is being requested. The District’s engineer will review the plans and provide a letter proposal to run a hydraulic model. This necessary review will confirm whether the District has the capacity to properly serve the proposed project. As soon as full payment of the letter proposal is received our engineer will be authorized to proceed. An official Ability to Serve letter will be provided pending positive findings from our engineer.

 

An Application for Water Service form must also be submitted for each fire and/or domestic water service before any estimates/invoices can be prepared. The District requires each domestic unit to be separately metered. The District will prepare an estimate/invoice for any “Contractor Assistance” to cover the cost of inspection, flushing, pressure testing and bacteriological testing.

 

Design Process

 

Prior to the design of any new fire protection systems, the Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractor must coordinate with the District to perform a Field Flow Test. The results shall be used by the Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractor to properly design and size the fire system. This step is very important as the District will charge the owner quarterly fees which are based on the size of line that enters the foundation. The District reserves the right to schedule the fire flow test at an appropriate time to minimize impact to our customers and water system. The District will not allow any field flow test request during freezing temperatures.

 

Fire Flow Request Forms are located on our website at www.yorkwaterdistrict.org under the Customer Service tab. Completed request forms can be submitted to customerservice@yorkwaterdistrict.org. Any additional questions can also be answered by contacting our office at 207-363-2265. Hydrant flow test fees must be paid prior to any flow tests being scheduled or conducted. The District will provide staff to operate our hydrants while the representative(s) from the Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractor will be responsible for gauging the hydrants and recording the necessary data. All calibrated diffusers and gauges must be supplied by the sprinkler contractor. The District will require a copy of all flow test results on the agency’s official letterhead which will be retained with our records for each project.

For projects where fire sprinkler service lines will also be supplying the domestic water to a building, separate shutoff valves on the outside of the building shall be installed and the District will require an easement for the service line extending from the water main to the shutoff valves just outside of the foundation. The owner or their representative will be responsible for confirming that the fire sprinkler line is sized properly to allow for both fire and domestic use.

 

Backflow prevention devices are required on all new fire sprinkler systems supplied by the  District. Per our Cross-Connection Control Program, “New service lines with direct connection from the utilities    water mains and interconnected with auxiliary supplies such as, FDC’s, pumps taking suctions from rivers, ponds, wells, or reservoirs exposed to contamination, or where antifreeze is added or other industrial water systems shall have a State approved reduced pressure zone principal backflow preventer (RPZ) installed in such a manner as to protect the public water system”. For most other scenarios, a testable double-check valve assembly can be used, pending final District approval. All RPZ’s shall be installed horizontally with a minimum of 12 inches between the bottom of the relief valve opening and the floor. It should be considered during the building design process to install floor drains that would capture any potential leakage during normal operation of the device and annual testing, as well as an air gap on any plumbed lines leading to the floor drain or to the exterior of the building.

 

Underground Installation

 

The Owner (or their representative) is responsible for securing an excavation contractor (who has been pre-approved by the District), to perform the physical underground connection to the water main and the excavation/installation of the service pipe into the building. Submittals will be required for all materials used that meet the District’s specifications prior to installation. The contractor is responsible for all aspects of the excavation/installation including road opening permits, environmental permitting, traffic control, sand bedding, compaction, acceptable backfill material, lawn repairs, and pavement replacement. The District does not accept stone dust as sand bedding. Site must be restored to pre-existing conditions. District personnel will inspect all underground connections to ensure materials are properly installed, backfilled, and compacted to meet our specifications. The District will flush the newly installed service pipe for purposes of pressure testing and chlorination only. Our staff will perform pressure testing of the underground service line to the standpipe inside the building in accordance with AWWA and NFPA guidelines (200psi for 2 hours). The Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractor or Certified Responsible Managing Supervisor should coordinate with the District in advance if they need to witness the pressure testing process. Any additional flushing required to meet NFPA specifications on the Contractor's Material and Test Certificate shall be the responsibility of the Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractor and must be coordinated with District personnel to operate any valves outside of the building.

 

Maintenance

 

Anytime modifications or renewals are being proposed to an existing system, the District shall be notified to reassess the hazard level and whether the current backflow protection is appropriate or needs to be replaced.  The Owner shall be responsible for any system redesigning that will be required to ensure adequate flows for fire protection.

 

Any customers choosing to test/flush their private fire protection systems are encouraged to do so during the last week of October and/or the last week of May. Customers who choose to test/flush during these periods are required to give the District at least two business days’ notice. Anyone wishing to test/flush at any other time must first receive written permission from the District. The Customer must also compensate the District for both the actual costs of any public notice of the test/flush, determined by the District to be reasonable and

 

 

necessary, and the cost of any flushing of the system determined by the District to be reasonable or necessary to correct any discoloration of water caused by the Customer’s test/flushing.

 

Annual testing of backflow prevention devices by a Certified Backflow Tester is required by both the District and the State of Maine. All annual tests must be completed with successful test reports submitted to backflow@yorkwaterdistrict.org no later than June 30th each year, to avoid service interruption.

 

Contact Info 

 

For any other questions regarding new or existing fire protection systems, please contact our office:

York Water District

86 Woodbridge Road

York, Maine 03909

P: 207-363-2265

E: customerservice@yorkwaterdistrict.org