Stage 2: Water On Your Day / Aquifer Level: 637.9

Updated 4/18/2024


Archived SAWS Construction Specifications

Updated March 3, 2017
Applicable for projects advertised for bids After Feb. 27, 2017

For all San Antonio Water System (SAWS) construction contracts, Trilateral Contracts, Counter Permits and General Construction Permits, all projects received for approval after February 27, 2017 need to conform to the updated specifications (dated “February 2017”).  For Trilateral Contracts, General Construction Permits, and Counter Permits, regardless of when the draft plans were received by SAWS’ Counter Services Division, whose construction start date is on or after March 1, 2017 need to conform to the updated specifications (“dated February 2017” & "March 2017").

The standard specifications and drawings (DD) are provided as a technical resource for engineering professionals for use in design and construction of water and wastewater projects managed and contracted by the San Antonio Water System.
At any time, these specifications and drawings may be altered or superseded by the general conditions, special conditions, supplementary conditions, or addenda included within the contract documents issued for each project.

Specifications for Water and Sanitary Sewer Construction specifications have been divided into a downloadable Adobe PDFs.

2017 Updated Construction Specifications

851 – Adjusting Existing Manholes

852 – Sanitary Sewer Manholes - Updated 1/9/18

853 – Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polyester (FRP) Manholes

855 – Reconstruction of Existing Manholes - Updated 1/9/18

857 – Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe for Large Diameter Gravity Sanitary Sewer

864-S1 – Bypass Pumping (Small Diameter Sanitary Sewers)
864-S2 – Bypass Pumping (Large Diameter Sanitary Sewers)

900 – Pipe Bursting/Crushing Replacement Process

901 – Rehabilitation of Sanitary Sewer by Cured-In-Place Pipe (Hot Water or Steam Cured)

2014 Construction Specifications

Significant changes to the construction specifications have been summarized in the following document:

To download the full, 460-page specification guide, in Adobe PDF format, click on the link below.

For archived 2014 specifications and projects in process before the update, may reference previous specifications here.

IA-1 – Spec Index
100 – Mobilization 101 – Preparation of Right-of-Way
110 – Recycle Water System
DD-110-10 — Recycled Water Valve Detail

200 – Flexible Base 300 – Concrete (Natural Aggregate) 301 – Reinforcing Steel 307 – Concrete Structures
550 – Trench Excavation Safety Protection

804 – Excavation, Trenching and Backfill
DD-804-01 – Sanitary Sewer Pipe Laid in Trench
DD-804-02 – Trench Compaction Detail
808 – Reinforced Concrete Vaults
DD-808-01 – Standard Details All Meter Vaults
DD-808-02 – Vault for 3", 4", 6", & 8" Turbine Meter
DD-808-03 – Concrete Vault for 6" & 8" Double Detector Check
DD-808-04 – Concrete Vault for 10" Double Detector Check
DD-808-05 – Concrete Vault for 12" Service with 10" Meter
DD-808-05 – Concrete Vault for 12" Service with 10" Meter
DD-808-05 – Concrete Vault for 12" Service with 10" Meter
DD-808-06 – Concrete Vault for 6" & 8" Fire Flow Meter
DD-808-07 – Concrete Vault for 6" & 8" Detector Check
DD-808-08 – Concrete Vault for 10"x12" Detector Check
DD-808-09 – Bolt Down Mechanism
DD-808-10 – Bolt Down Mechanism

809 – Reinforced Concrete Vaults for Metered Fire line Services

812 – Water Main Installation
DD-812-00 – Pipe Couplings
DD-812-01 – Potable and Recycled Water Main Detail

813 – Water Service for Fire lines

814 – Ductile Iron Pipe

816 – Steel Pipe Installation
DD-816-01 – Coupling Harness Steel Pipe

818 – PVC (C-900, C-905, and C-909) Pipe Installation

820 – Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe Installation
DD-820-01 – Installation of C.S.C. in Conduit or Bore


821 – High Pressure Zone Distribution System

822 – Customer's Yard Pipe (Water)
&Reconnect Customer's Yard Piping

823 – Directional Boring for Yard Pipe (Water)

824 – Service Supply Lines (Water)
DD-824-01 – Copper Service Installation Main in Terrace
DD-824-01 – Copper Service Installation Unimproved Street
DD-824-01 – Copper Service Installation Tapping Schedule
DD-824-02 – Service Relay, Service Relocation 3/4' thru 2"
DD-824-03 – Service Reconnection 3/4" thru 2"
DD-824-03 – Service Reconnection 3/4" thru 2"
DD-824-04 – Service Arrangement in Cul-De-Sac
DD-824-04 – Service Arrangement in Cul-De-Sac w/Hydrant
DD-824-05 – Typical Service Arrangement
DD-824-05 – Typical Service Arrangement
DD-824-06 – 3" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-06 – 3" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-07 – 4" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-07 – 4" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-09 – 6" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-09 – 6" Turbine Meter Installation
DD-824-10 – 6" Fire Flow Meter Installation
DD-824-12 – 8" Service with a 8" Turbine Meter
DD-824-12 – 8" Service with a 8" Turbine Meter
DD-824-13 – 8" Fire Flow Meter Installation
DD-824-14 – 10" Fire Flow Meter Installation
DD-824-15 – 12" Service with 10" Turbine Meter
DD-824-16 – Temporary 4" Service w/4" Meter
DD-824-17 – 6" & 8" Detector Check for Fire Line
DD-824-17 – 6" & 8" Detector Check for Fire Line
DD-824-18 – 10"x12" Detector Check for Fire Line
DD-824-18 – 10"x12" Detector Check for Fire Line
DD-824-19 – 6" & 8" Double Detector Check Valve Installation
DD-824-20 – 10" Double Detector Check Valve Installation
DD-824-21 – 4",6",8" Non-metered Service
DD-824-22 – Double Check Detector (DCDA) Assembly Above Grade Installation

826 – Valve Box Adjustments

828 – Gate Valves
DD-828-01 – Non-Geared Gate Valve w/Valve Box & Extension
DD-828-02 – Geared Horizontal Gate Valve w/Valve Box Complete
DD-828-03 – Geared Vertical Gate Valve w/Valve Box Complete
DD-828-04 – Valve Marker

830 – Butterfly Valves
DD-830-01 – Buried Butterfly Valve w/Valve Box Complete
DD-830-01 – Butterfly Valve Arrangement for D.I. 20' & Larger
DD-830-01 – Butterfly Valve Arrangement for C.S.C. Pipe
DD-830-01 – Reaction Block- Butterfly Valves & Blow-Off Assemblies
DD-830-02 – Butterfly Assembly on PVC or DI Pipe

831 – Cut-In Tee

832 – Tapping Sleeves and Valves

833 – Meter and Meter Box Installation
DD-833-01 – Typical Meter Box Location (Residential)
DD-833-02 – Temporary 3" Fire Hydrant
DD-833-03 – Service Installation w/Pressure Reducing Valve
DD-833-04 – Vault for 3", 4", 6", and 8" Turbine Meter & 6", 8" Detector Check Installation

834 – Fire Hydrants
DD-834-01 – Fire Hydrant Installation
DD-834-02 – Fire Hydrant Guard Post
DD-834-03 – Fire Hydrant Installation at Cul-De-Sac

836 – Grey Iron and Ductile-Iron Fittings

839 – Anchorage/Thrust Blocking and Joint Restraint
DD-839-01 – Thrust Blocks for Fittings (Water Only)
DD-839-02 – Thrust Blocking for High Pressure System (Updated Aug. 2019)
DD-839-03 – Typical Thrust Blocks (Sewer Only)
DD-839-04 – Restrained Lengths for Tees
DD-839-04 – Restrained Lengths for Tees
DD-839-05 – Restrained Lengths for Dead Ends/Inline Valves
DD-839-06 – Restrained Lengths for Vertical Offsets
DD-839-07 – Restrained Lengths for Reducers
DD-839-08 – Restrained Lengths for Horizontal Bends

840 – Water Tie-Ins

841 – Hydrostatic Testing Operations

844 – Blowoff Assemblies
"Temporary Blow-offs on 6" & 8" D.I. Mains
DD-844-01 – 2" Temporary Blow-offs on 12" & 16" D.I. Mains
DD-844-02 – 2" Permanent Blow-offs on 12" & 16" D.I. Mains
DD-844-02 – Typical Blow-off Arrangement on Dead End Mains
DD-844-02 – 2" Permanent Blow-offs on 6" & 8" D.I. Mains
DD-844-03 – Blow-off Assembly on 2" Temporary Main
DD-844-04 – 4" Temporary Blow-off- 20" & Larger D.I. Main
DD-844-04 – 4" Temporary Blow-off- 20" & Lager C.S.C Main
DD-844-05 – 4" Permanent Blow-off- 20" & Larger D.I. Main
DD-844-05 – 4" Permanent Blow-off- 20" & Larger C.S.C.Main

845 – Gate, Fencing, And Property Marker Details

DD-845-00 – SAWS Property Marker on Unfenced Property
DD-845-01 – Standard Gate and Fence around SAWS Property



846 – Air Release Assemblies
DD-846-01 – Installation of 1" Air Release Valve
DD-846-02 – Installation of 2" Air Release Valve

847 – Disinfection
DD-847-01 – Standard Chlorination Installation

848 – Sanitary Sewers
DD-848-01 – Go, No Go Deflection Testing Mandrel
DD-848-01 – Go, No Go Deflection Testing Mandrel Chart

849 – Air and Deflection Testing (Sanitary Sewer)

850 – Sanitary Sewer Structures
DD-850-01 – Typical Sanitary Sewer Structure

854 – Sanitary Sewer Laterals

DD-854-02 – Typical Clean out Detail
DD-854-03 – Lateral Connection

856 – Jacking, Boring or Tunneling Pipe
DD-856-01 – Railroad Installation of Pipe In Conduit
DD-856-01 – Installation of Pipe in Conduit
DD-856-02 – Pavement Installation of Pipe in Bore
DD-856-02 – Installation of Pipe in Bore

858 – Concrete Encasement, Cradles, Saddles, and Collars
DD-858-01 – Typical Concrete Encasement Details
DD-858-02 – Typical Concrete Details

860 – Vertical Stacks
DD-860-01 – Typical Vertical Stack Detail

862 – Abandonment of Sewer Mains and Manholes

866 – Sewer Main Televising Inspection

868 – Sewer Main Cleaning

869 – Project Signs
DD-869-01 – Project Sign for SAWS Construction

902 – Safety and Health Program

903 – Construction QC/QA Program

904 – Construction Phase Procedures

Transmittal Form
Memorandum Form
Telephone Conversation Record
Request for Information
Transmittal of Contractor's Submittal
Conference Memorandum
Daily Construction Report
Contractor's Daily Construction Report
Monthly Summary of Construction
Pipe Leak Test Record
Request for Proposal
Proposal Cost Format
Change Order
Work Change Directive
Daily Time and Material Record
Payment Estimate
Payment Estimate(Excel Format)
Contract Summary Sheet
Contract Summary Sheet(Excel Format)
Spare Parts Transmittal
Pre-Con Checklist
Project Closeout Process
Water Acceptance Checklist
Sewer Acceptance Checklist

Log 1 - Request for Information
Log 2 - Shop Drawing Submittal
Log 3 - Pipe Testing
Log 4 - Change Order Proposal
Log 5 - Change Order
Log 6 - Spare Parts Transfer
Log 7 - Training
Log 8 - Contractor Un-metered Water Use Log
Log 9 - Contractor Tank Truck Water Use Log

906 – Water Use Accountability

1015—Service Line Breaks/Leak Repairs

1020 – Water Main Breaks/Leak Repairs

1100 – Sliplining Sanitary Sewers

1101 – Sliplining Grout

1103 – Point Repairs and Obstruction Removals

1109 – Sanitary Sewer Service Stubs and Reconnections

1110 – Progress Schedule

1112 – Project Record Documents

1114 – Pre-Construction Videos

3000 – Handling Asbestos Cement Pipe Backflow Protection for Water Hauling Equipment and/or Mixing Tanks

Backflow Prevention Assembly Installation Standards Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program

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