18.1 Protect the site prior to and after the installation of the drip system. Activities on the site shall be limited only to what is necessary for the installation of the system.

18.2 Any clearing or grubbing shall be performed based on a site-specific plan, which minimizes the disturbance of the soil and protects the overall soil characteristics. It may be necessary to use flexible PVC tubing to work around or over objects in the dispersal field; however the number of emitters shall not be reduced.

18.3 Drip tubing shall not be installed when the soil is wet or frozen.

18.4 Drip tubing shall be installed on contour.

18.5 Flexible Schedule 40 PVC tubing shall be used at each manifold connection to provide additional crimping protection and to prevent the tubing from being pulled out of the supply or return manifold as the soil settles.

18.6 Drip tubing shall be taped, or plugged or capped when cut. All piping shall be taped or capped at the end of the construction day.

18.7 PVC pipe cutters that cleanly shear the pipe or tubing shall be used rather than sawing the pipe or tubing.

18.8 Complete flushing of the supply line prior to the connection of the drip tubing shall be performed. Sufficient volume of water shall be used to ensure all debris is removed from both the supply line and the drip tubing.

18.9 A start-up system check shall be performed before the system is placed in operation. All operational functions that would be expected during routine operations shall be performed in a specified time period of not less than 24 hours. This operational test shall include but not be limited to: timed dose functions, volume loading, flow rates, pressures at the inlet and outlet of each zone, pressures at the inlet and outlet of filters, leak detection, flushing, and alarms.

18.10 Repairs or modifications shall be made to eliminate any wet spot.

18.11 The establishment of a vegetative cover is critical to the overall performance of a drip dispersal system. The dispersal area shall be covered with sod or mulch as soon as possible after the installation of the drip tubing.