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Service Connection Policies
Division of Water
Domestic and Fire Service Connection Policy

1. APPROVAL OF SERVICE CONNECTIONS

The Division of Water reserves the right to approve or change proposed service connection plans, pipe sizes and meter sizes according to the Division's requirements.

2. SERVICE TAPS BY THE DIVISION OF WATER

All service taps are to be performed by the Division of Water or a contractor authorized by the Commissioner of CWD.

3. DOMESTIC SUPPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE BUILDING

A domestic service line shall supply no more than one building.

4. DEPTH OF SERVICE PIPE

Depth of service pipe from the water main to the curb valve/meter vault for domestic and fire service shall not be less than 6 feet from the established grade and from curb valve/meter vault to building shall not be less than 5 ½ feet from established grade.

5. SERVICE PIPE MATERIAL TWO INCH AND LESS

All service pipe from the curb valve to the home or building with a nominal diameter of two inch and less for domestic purposes shall be Type K Copper for all connections 150 feet and less as measured from the right-of-way to the face of home or building.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) SDR 9, manufactured for potable water application may be used in lieu of copper under the following conditions:

  • The service connection is in excess of 150 feet as measured from the right-of-way to the face of home or building. 
  • The meter is to be placed in a vault in the right of way or in an easement contiguous to the right-of-way.
  • A double-check backflow prevention device must be installed in the vault immediately downstream of the meter.
  • The backflow prevention device is to be tested annually and a test and maintenance form must be submitted at the time of each annual test by a certified backflow prevention device tester.  For all the test and tester requirements see the “backflow” section of our website at http://www.clevelandwater.com/system_overview/operations_backflow06.
  • The piping from the main to the meter and within the meter vault shall be Type K Copper.  HDPE may be used from the outlet of the meter assembly to the house or building. 
  • HDPE pipe must meet all applicable performance standards for a pressure rated applications as required in NSF/ANSI Standard 14, and shall comply with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for health effects.  HDPE pipe must be marked as NSF-pw (NSF compliant for potable water)
  • The HDPE Pipe must meet all requirements of AWWA C901, AWWA C906, NSF 14, NSF 61 and ASTM D3035.  Where intermediate joints are necessary connections must be made by either the use of a compression coupling with insert rings or by creating a fusion butt weld. 

All material between the curb valve and the house or building is the responsibility of the property owner.   Where HDPE Pipe is used, the Division of Water recommends that the owner install a tracer tape system so that their connection can be located in the future and that our 5 1/2' depth requirements are strictly adhered to so that the line is not susceptible to freezing as HDPE can not be thawed by the Division of Water.

Type K Copper must be used between the water main and the curb valves in all applications.  HDPE will only be considered upon a  written request by the applicant to the Division of Water

Type K Copper must be used in all fire service applications with no exceptions.

All service line materials and installation procedures must also meet local building and fire code criteria where applicable.

6. SERVICE PIPE MATERIAL GREATER THAN TWO-INCHES

All service pipe from the curb valve to the home or building with a nominal diameter greater than two inch shall be Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe for all connections 150 feet and less as measured from the right-of-way to the face of home or building. 

PVC Pressure Rated Pipe SDR 18 or thicker as per ASTM D2241 manufactured for potable water application may be used in lieu of Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe for connections in excess of 150 feet as measured from the right-of-way to the face of home or building.  Domestic Service lines in excess of 150 feet also require a meter vault.  In such instances, all the piping from the main to the meter and within the meter vault shall be Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe.  PVC may be used from the outlet of the meter assembly to the house or building.   

The PVC pipe shall be manufactured and tested in accordance with AWWA Standard C900 for “Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pressure Pipe and Fabricated Fittings, 4 in. through 12 in. (100 mm through 300 mm), for Water Distribution”, or AWWA Standard C909 for “Molecularly Oriented Polyvinyl Chloride (PVCO) Pressure Pipe, 4 in. through 12 in. (100 mm through 300 mm), for Water Distribution” and clearly marked as such.  PVC water pipe shall be certified to NSF International Standard No. 61. 

All material between the curb valve and the house or building is the responsibility of the property owner.   Where PVC Pipe is used, the Division of Water recommends that the owner install a tracer tape system so that their connection can be located in the future and that our 5 1/2' depth requirements are strictly adhered to so that the line is not susceptible to freezing as PVC can not be thawed by the Division of Water. 

  • Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe must be used between the water main and the curb valves with no exceptions.   All 3” service lines must be Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe in their entirety from the main to the house or building regardless of setback distance. 

  • Class 52 Cement Lined Ductile Iron Pipe must be used in all fire service applications with no exceptions.

  • All service line materials and installation procedures must also meet local building and fire code criteria where applicable.

7. SERVICE PIPE IN SEWER TRENCHES

Service pipes shall not be laid in sewer trenches except in rock excavation, in which case the service pipe may be put on a shelf not less than eight-inches wide, cut into the side of the trench. In all other cases, there shall not be less than 5 feet between centers of service pipes and sewer pipes.

8. SIZE OF WATER MAINS THAT CANNOT BE TAPPED FOR SERVICE CONNECTIONS

Water mains sixteen-inches and larger shall not be tapped for service connections.

9. MINIMUM SIZE OF SERVICE TAP

Taps less than one-inch in diameter shall not be approved.

10. BENDS ON SERVICE PIPE

No horizontal bends are permitted on the service pipe prior to (upstream) of the curb valves.

11. LOCATION OF CURB VALVES

All service connections require curb valves that shall be located in the right of way approximately three feet behind the face of curb. For water mains in easements, curb valves shall be located approximately three feet from the water main unless otherwise directed by CWD.  If no curb exists, criteria shall be established from edge of pavement.

12. MORE THAN ONE DOMESTIC SERVICE LINE TO A SINGLE BUILDING

If more than one domestic service line is used to supply one building then the Division of Water reserves the right to make a determination with regard to allowing this arrangement.

13. FIRE SUPPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE BUILDING ON A SINGLE PARCEL

A fire service line shall supply no more than one building. If the local fire department requires looping of the fire line then the Division of Water will evaluate these situations case by case.

14. SERVICE LINES CROSSING PROPERTY LINES

Under no circumstances shall a service line cross property lines unless one parcel is landlocked and therefore has no frontage to the water main. In cases such as these, a copy of the agreement/easement between the two property owners must be sent to the Permits and Sales Department.

15. SERVICE CONNECTIONS ALONG FRONTAGE OF PROPERTY

A service connection to a water main shall be permitted only if the water main extends across the full frontage of the premises.

16. SERVICE CONNECTIONS TO CORNER LOTS OR LOTS THAT ABUT TWO STREETS

A service connection to a lot that abuts more than one street will be permitted only if the lot has a water main that is extended across the full frontage as well as across the property limits on the side street(s) in which the property abuts.

17. LOCATION OF TAP NOT ALONG FRONTAGE OF PROPERTY

A service tap can be made on any street that abuts the property limits as long as water mains are extended across the street(s) in which the property abuts as stated in Policy #2.

18. PLUGGING EXISTING SERVICE CONNECTIONS

When a new service connection permit is issued, all existing service connections to the property must be plugged at the water main and is the responsibility of the owner.

19. CASING FOR SERVICE CONNECTIONS

No casing is permitted on service connections before the curb valve(s) unless the service line is going under a utility greater than 24-inches in diameter. Steel casings are the only casings permissible. This policy excludes PVC casing for new subdivision connections.

20. SINGLE FEED-DUAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS

A domestic service connection that comes off the fire service connection must be teed off in the right-of-way before either service line enters the meter or the backflow vault. The fire service line is not permitted to tee off the domestic service line.

21. REUSING EXISTING SERVICE CONNECTIONS

An existing service connection can be reused only if the new service pipe after the curb valve is of the same nominal diameter as the existing connection.

22. NO CONNECTIONS OFF CIRCULATION MAINS

No service connection can be tapped off a designated circulation main.  A circulation main is defined as a mains installed for the purpose of providing circulation and installed in an easement.

23. Connecting different service districts

Unless special permission is given by the Commissioner of Water, no arrangement of pipes connecting different service districts will be permitted.

24. DISTANCE BETWEEN TAPS

One-inch connections shall have a minimum distance of five feet between taps when the taps are made on the same side of the water main. One-inch connections made on opposite sides of the water main require a minimum distance of 18-inches. Connections larger than one-inch require a minimum distance of five feet between taps. A minimum distance of five feet is required between the tap and a hydrant tee or valves. A minimum distance of 2 feet is required between a tap and the bell or a bend.

25. THREE TIERED CAMPUS MODEL ON A SINGLE PARCEL

When three or more buildings are situated on a single parcel and the buildings are arranged in such a manner as being placed one behind the other (three tiered), the Division of Water will review these on a case by case basis.

26. BYPASS ON METER SETTERS

Bypass lines are not permitted on meter setters inside buildings.

27. LOCATION OF METER VAULTS

Meter vaults are to be installed in the right-of-way or within the water main easement or adjacent to either the right-of-way or water main easement in a meter vault easement.


28. ONE METER ALLOWED PER SERVICE CONNECTION

Only one meter shall be set on one service line unless the owner is installing a deduct meter for irrigation purposes. The deduct meter is to be purchased from the Division of Water or from an approved manufacturer, in which case, the meter must be sent to the Division's meter shop to be calibrated. The Division reads both the domestic meter and the deduct meter but is not responsible for repairs to the deduct meter. The local sewer authority has jurisdiction over granting a separate service for irrigation only.

29. SUB METERING

The Division of Water will not sub meter any property.

30. PLACEMENT OF METER

 A meter vault is required when the size of the meter is 3-inches and greater unless special permission is granted by the Commissioner of Water. A meter vault will also be required if the distance between the existing right-of-way and the domestic service point of entry into the building is more than 150 feet.  The meter must be installed immediately after entering the building in a horizontal position a maximum of 36-inches from the basement floor. The backflow device for a commercial connection is to be installed immediately after the meter.  

 

31. BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES

The Division of Water requires backflow prevention devices on all commercial service connections.  The Division of Water also requires backflow prevention devices on certain residential service connections based on a review by the Engineering Section.  The Division shall also determine the type and location of each backflow prevention device.

 

32. PLACEMENT OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC SERVICE INSIDE BUILDING

 Backflow prevention devices for Domestic water lines must be installed in a vault or heated enclosure if the distance from the curb box to the point of entry into the building is 150 feet or more, otherwise the Backflow prevention device should be installed in the building immediately after the water meter. The type of devise used depends on the degree of hazard and must be approved by the Cleveland Division Water Engineering Section.  When a reduced pressure Backflow prevention device is specified, the backflow may be placed in the building regardless the distance from the curb box to the point of entry into the building.  If a Heated Enclosure is used, it must be placed on private property, such that the it does not restrict, limit or impact in any way the line of site needed to safely ingress or egress the premises. The location of the heated enclosure must be shown on the site plan. The site plan must signed by the city, village, district, or county engineer. Upon request, the Backflow prevention device may be installed in a heated enclosure. 

 

33. REQUIRED HEATED ENCLOSURES FOR Backflow prevention DEVICES FOR FIRE SERVICE CONNECTIONS

Backflow prevention device for Fire supply lines must be installed in a vault or heated enclosure if the distance from the curb box to the point of entry into the building is 50 feet or more, otherwise the backflow may be installed  in the building. The type of devise used depends on the degree of hazard and whether or not there are yard hydrants installed on the fire supply line.  The type of devise for fire lines must be approved by the Cleveland Division Water's Backflow Unit.  When a Heated Enclosure is used, it must be placed on private property, such that it does not restrict, limit or impact in any way the line of site needed to safely ingress or egress the premises. The location of the heated enclosure must be shown on the site plan. The site plan must signed by the city, village, district, or county engineer. Upon request, the Backflow prevention device may be installed in a heated enclosure.

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1201 Lakeside Ave. | Cleveland, OH 44114 | (216) 664-2444
Building Hours: 8:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM

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