Apparent Leakage in PVC Pipe
Gasketed PVC pipe is very popular today across North America for underground water mains as well as sewage force mains. As is the case for all pipelines, regardless of material, post-construction testing is usually demanded to ensure all new lines have been installed properly. One test that is common for gasketed pipe such as PVC is the combined leakage and pressure test. This test is intended to verify both the pressure capacity and the joint tightness of the pipe system simultaneously. The procedure of this test is to first fill a section of the line with water. Next, additional water is pumped into the line until the section is elevated to a desired test pressure. The system is then closed and held for a specified test period, typically 2 hours. During this 2 hours, it is possible that the system pressure may drop. If the pressure drop is rapid during testing, it is likely that a significant leak is present in the system.
