ONTARIO

PROVINCIAL METRIC
STANDARD OPSS 517
SPECIFICATION NOVEMBER 2010

CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION FOR

DEWATERING OF PIPELINE, UTILITY, AND
ASSOCIATED STRUCTURE EXCAVATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

517.01 SCOPE

517.02 REFERENCES

517.03 DEFINITIONS

517.04 DESIGN AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

517.05 MATERIALS - Not Used

517.06 EQUIPMENT - Not Used

517.07 CONSTRUCTION

517.08 QUALITY ASSURANCE - Not Used

517.09 MEASUREMENT FOR PAYMENT - Not Used

517.10 BASIS OF PAYMENT

APPENDICES

517-A Commentary

517.01 SCOPE

This specification covers the requirements for dewatering procedures to stabilize the ground and keep
excavations free of water during installation of sanitary and storm pipe sewers, pipe culverts and end
sections, forcemains and associated appurtenances, watermains and associated appurtenances, and
other underground Utilities; maintenance holes, catch basins, ditch inlets, and valve chambers; and any
other specified subsurface construction.

517.01.01 Specification Significance and Use

This specification has been developed for use in provincial and municipal-oriented Contracts. The
administration, testing, and payment policies, procedures, and practices reflected in this specification
correspond to those used by many municipalities and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Use of this specification or any other specification shall be according to the Contract Documents.

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517.01.02 Appendices Significance and Use

Appendices are not for use in provincial contracts as they are developed for municipal use, and then, only
when invoked by the Owner.

Appendices are developed for the Owners use only.

Inclusion of an appendix as part of the Contract Documents is solely at the discretion of the Owner.
Appendices are not a mandatory part of this specification and only become part of the Contract
Documents as the Owner invokes them.

Invoking a particular appendix does not obligate an Owner to use all available appendices. Only invoked
appendices form part of the Contract Documents.

The decision to use any appendix is determined by an Owner after considering their contract
requirements and their administrative, payment, and testing procedures, policies, and practices.
Depending on these considerations, an Owner may not wish to invoke some or any of the available
appendices.

517.02 REFERENCES

When the Contract Documents indicate that provincial-oriented specifications are to be used and there is
a provincial-oriented specification of the same number as those listed below, references within this
specification to an OPSS shall be deemed to mean OPSS.PROV, unless use of a municipal-oriented
specification is specified in the Contract Documents. When there is not a corresponding provincial-
oriented specification, the references below shall be considered to be to the OPSS listed, unless use of a
municipal-oriented specification is specified in the Contract Documents.

When the Contract Documents indicate that municipal-oriented specifications are to be used and there is
a municipal-oriented specification of the same number as those listed below, references within this
specification to an OPSS shall be deemed to mean OPSS.MUNI, unless use of a provincial-oriented
specification is specified in the Contract Documents. When there is not a corresponding municipal-
oriented specification, the references below shall be considered to be the OPSS listed, unless use of a
provincial-oriented specification is specified in the Contract Documents.

This specification refers to the following standards, specifications, or publications:

Ontario Provincial Standard Specifications, Construction

OPSS 412 Sewage Forcemain Installation in Open Cut

OPSS 441 Watermain Installation in Open Cut
OPSS 518 Control of Water From Dewatering Operations

517.03 DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this specification, the following definitions apply:

Associated Appurtenances mean as defined in OPSS 412 and OPSS 441.

Surrounding Area means as specified by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) or as specified in the
Contract Documents.

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517.04 DESIGN AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

517.04.01 Submission Requirements

The following information shall be submitted to the Contract Administrator for review at least two weeks
prior to the commencement of dewatering operation:

a) Unless provided in the Contract Documents, the permit issued by MOE for taking water from a ground
water source, if required.

b) Monitoring and contingency plans that address potential impacts to items such as, but not limited to,
settlement, ground water usage and electrical and mechanical equipment failures.

c) Stand-by power or pumping capacity or both, if required by the Contract Documents.

d) Calibration documentation for the flow metering system.

517.07 CONSTRUCTION

517.07.01 Dewatering

A continuous dewatering operation shall be provided to keep the excavation stable and free of water.
The excavation shall be monitored to ensure it remains stable and free of water.

The dewatering system shall be maintained and the surrounding area monitored for impacts to items such
as, but not limited to, settlement and ground water usage. Any impacts shall be immediately reported to
the Contract Administrator.

When a stand-by power or pumping system or both are required, they shall be as specified in the
Contract Documents, and shall be installed on-site.

The availability, location, and use of automatic transfer switching shall be as specified in the Contract
Documents.

Dewatering shall be discontinued in a manner so that disturbance of any structure or pipeline is avoided.

517.07.02 Control of Water

The control of water shall be according to OPSS 518.

517.07.03 Management of Excess Material

Management of excess material shall be according to the Contract Documents.

517.10 BASIS OF PAYMENT

Payment at the Contract price for the appropriate tender items for the installation of sanitary and storm
pipe sewers, pipe culverts and end sections, forcemains and associated appurtenances, watermains and
associated appurtenances, and other underground Utilities; maintenance holes, catch basins, ditch inlets,
or valve chambers; and any other specified subsurface construction shall be full compensation for all
labour, Equipment, and Material to do the work.

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Appendix 517-A, November 2010
FOR USE WHILE DESIGNING MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS

Note: This is a non-mandatory Commentary Appendix intended to provide information to a designer,

during the design stage of a contract, on the use of the OPS specification in a municipal contract.
This appendix does not form part of the standard specification. Actions and considerations
discussed in this appendix are for information purposes only and do not supersede an Owners
design decisions and methodology.

Designer Action/Considerations

The designer may consider including soil boring data, a geotechnical report, a subsurface report, or a
soils report in the Tender Documents.

The designer should specify the following in the Contract Documents:

- Surrounding area. (517.03)

- Stand-by power or pumping capacity or both. (517.04.01)

- When required, stand-by power or pumping system or both. (517.07.01)

- Availability, location, and use of automatic transfer switching, based on site conditions, impacts, and
risk assessment. (517.07.01)

Due to the time required, the designer should consider obtaining the dewatering permit to avoid delays.
(517.04)

The need for a specific dewatering scheme should be determined. If a specific dewatering scheme is
necessary, it should be specified in the Contract Documents.

The designer should ensure that the General Conditions of Contract and the 100 Series General
Specifications are included in the Contract Documents.

Related Ontario Provincial Standard Drawings

No information provided here.

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