Mains Chlorination
- New Mains Chlorination, all Lengths & Diameters
- Guaranteed Connection
- Water Authority Certified Engineers
- UKAS sampling to Water Authority specification
- PE (blue pipe) & ductile pipe work
- Fully data-logged pressure tests
- Full pipe swabbing performed
- Specialist equipment
- Proven track record
Mains Water Pipe Chlorination & Pressure Testing
Prior to connection of a new mains water pipe by a Water Authority/Utility Company they require a number of things to ensure the pipe is leak free, clean and safe for the distribution of drinking water. Without the correct detailed and accredited certification for the water system the Water Company will not allow connection of the new main as it poses a risk not only to the new water user but also to their existing network through potential contamination.
We have qualified and experienced engineers located in strategic locations allowing us to work across the UK with all UK Water Authorities and are fully aware of the specific testing and analysis requirements of each of them. We tailor our service to ensure you obtain the correct new mains certification required depending on the local Water Company requirements.
All our processes are in line with those required by the various relevant British Standards and Water Authority Requirements such as the BS8558:2015 (BS6700), PD855468:2015, BS EN 806, TGN2 and the WIS 4-01-03 (IGN).
We NEVER subcontract so we know every one of our engineers works to the highest standards and are all EUSR accredited, holding the EUSR National Water Hygiene Card, this is a legal requirement when working on new mains supplies. Each one also holds the EUSR SHEA Water Card (Safety Health & Environmental Awareness) which also acts as a CSCS card (CSCS accredited) for working on construction sites.
We only use certified UKAS certified laboratories for our chemical and microbiological analysis certificates and provide a detailed chlorination certificate on completion so choose us to provide your new pipe work commissioning services.
Why Choose us for Mains Chlorination?
Our Clients Say it the Best!
We have a proven track record of providing water chlorination services that obtain connections and we work with clients like you everyday. We understand that the lack of a water connection may be holding up the sale of highly valuable assets or there may be contractual penalties for delays to the water connection.
We understand the requirement to get it right first time and make sure that your water chlorination is completed in a professional manner with emphasis on hygiene at every point.
We make sure you understand the entire commissioning process in full and what you need to do both before and after your new mains chlorination to ensure your best possible chance of connection.
We give full guidance and advice at every stage should you require it and where necessary we will liaise directly with the Water Authorities for you to ensure your new mains connection is granted, after all we are the experts.
As a company we have worked on some of the largest projects and events in the UK where there are no second chances to get mains connections approved.
We are just as competitive when performing routine short service connections into a house for example but we undertake the commissioning and chlorination to the same exacting standards as those used on larger systems.
Not only do we fully understand the correct processes but we have built our own commissioning equipment to ensure our clients get the most efficient and effective service, cutting costs and reducing time to your new mains connection.
You will see from all our on site images that we are a real company providing very real mains commissioning services, on sites just like yours, everyday.
Pressure Test
Service mains are generally the short runs of pipe work that come from the main distribution network into the building.
Service mains tend to remain the property of the building/land owner and leaks and failures are thus also their responsibility.
Correct commissioning and pressure testing are therefore vital.
Adoptable mains are the mains that will eventually become an asset owned by the Water Authority.
As such the testing specification and requirements to obtain a connection tend to be much higher and there is a much greater level of scrutiny.
Without the correct adoptable certification the connection will be refused and the asset payment will not take place.
Pressure Test
The WIS 4-01-03 is the water industry standard for pressure testing. Released in March 2024 it provides the exact methodology, calculations and criteria for pressure testing and certificating a new PE main.
Good certification is vital as it is this that highlights to the Water Authority that the new mains commissioning has been performed to the correct standard and gives them the confidence to allow connection.
All our certification is fully auditable with photographic evidence of works performed at each stage and full breakdown of the process.
What is Involved to Correctly Commission a New Main?
To correctly commission a new water mains pipe there are a number of processes that must be performed to ensure that the pipe work is clean, leak free, sampled and the correct pressure test certificate and certificate of chlorination are issued. The lack of any of these processes will risk the connection being approved and could set your connection date back months.
Swabbing
(Learn More)
This passes an oversized foam cylinder down the pipe to remove both air and debris. Removing air is important for any subsequent pressure test but it also ensures the full pipe is in contact with the chlorine dosed water to ensure complete disinfection. It also removes debris, dirt, dust and stones that will not only risk the connection but that can cause issues such as blockages later. This step is VITAL, especially on larger mains where flushing speed is low. If swabbing is not performed there is a very high chance the connection will be rejected.
Pressure Testing
(Learn More)
This adds water into the sealed pipe and ensures that the pipe and water fittings are free from leaks. However, plastic new mains pipe will stretch and this can present as a leak. As such it’s important that this new mains pressure test is performed by a specialist company such as ourselves who have highly accurate and calibrated pressure logging equipment and the expertise to calculate if the loss of pressure is due to stretching or a leaking pipe.
A leaking pipe losing only 20 millilitres of water every minute (a drip) over the course of a year can lose 10,000 litres, if the leak increases to 1 L per minute you have a loss of 525,000 litres. Imagine the water bill from the local water authority.
Hygiene Flushing
Often disregarded but we flush the main after swabbing and pressure testing with clean water to remove any light debris brought off the pipe surface by the swab and ensure any taste or odour “taint” is removed from the pipe work, thus ensuring the highest water quality in your new pipework as possible. More and more Water companies are looking for sampling of Taste and Odour in their new mains analysis suite and performing this step can be the difference between obtaining the connection of having it rejected.
New Main Chlorination
(Learn More)
This is the part that people ask for and will tell you is needed and whilst new mains chlorination is a necessary step it is not a stand alone solution. Chlorine will not penetrate mud and dirt that has got into the pipe to disinfect and once removed from the pipework bacteria will be washed out of this dirt and will result in failed microbiological analysis, meaning a failed new mains connection, hence the importance of swabbing. It is also important to ensure that chlorine is measured accurately and digital equipment should be used to ensure the chlorine levels are correct. Generally the chlorination process for a new main is to dose it with ~50 mg/L (ppm) of sodium hypochlorite and leave it to stand for a minimum of 1 hour. Beware of anyone using anything other than sodium hypochlorite as Water Companies will often reject connections when other disinfectants are used.
Post Chlorination Flushing
After the disinfection / chlorination has been completed the new water main must then be flushed with good quality, potable water, until the chlorine residual measurements show that the chlorine concentration of the water in the main is no higher than that found in the supply water. Chlorinated water should be correctly neutralised as discharging chlorinated water to ground or into water courses can have disastrous results with the death of aquatic animals and damage to plants etc. Ensure any contractor employed carries this out as failure to do this can land the whole site at risk of prosecution from the Environment Agency.
Post Flushing Water Analysis
Once the chlorinated water has been flushed the water in the new main should be analysed for number of things.
- Free Chlorine (ensure the chlorine has been removed and there is only the same background level of chlorine as in the supply water)
- Total Chlorine
- Turbidity (the presence of debris in the water)
- pH (acidity or alkalinity of the water)
- Electrical Conductivity (ensures there are no remaining chemicals or contaminants in the new main that aren’t present in the parent water supply)
- Odour (ensures the main is clean and free from contaminants causing bad odours)
- Taste (ensures there are no contaminants causing poor taste in the new main)
New Main Sampling
New mains water samples are taken according to the specific Water Authority specification and sent to a UKAS accredited laboratory for full analysis. This can include microbiological analysis for such things as E. coli, coliforms, Enterococci etc. and chemical analysis for such things as EC, pH, turbidity etc.
It is essential that the company performing this work is aware of the specific Water Authority analysis requirements as these differ widely across different water companies. If incorrect new main samples are taken then the new main connection will be rejected.
New Mains Chlorination Certification
Full certification will be provided detailing the above process. This should have adequate detail to provide the Water Authority with the confidence that the process has been performed to a high standard by a professional company. Ideally this will provide photographic evidence of things such as swabbing, flushing and chlorine levels etc. and without this the Water Authority may not allow the new main to be connected to the mains supply.
Whilst the pressure testing certificate and chlorination / disinfection certificate can be provided on the day of the testing the UKAS laboratory certification takes between 3-7 days depending upon the complexity and type of testing. Rather than confuse things we provide a full connection pack that can be forwarded to the Water Company so the connection can be granted.
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Projects/Case Studies
We are capable of competitively chlorinating new mains pipe work for large commercial projects, developments and other large pipe run projects but are just as happy providing new mains chlorination certificates for small single pipe service connections for builders and developers.
Regardless of the size of the project we are always competitively priced and offer the same level of service, care and expertise.
We are so confident in our ability to get you your connection that we guarantee our work.
Testimonials
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