Sewer main line construction inspection checklist
Periodic, pre-pavement and final inspections of a public sewer main extension built by a developer or contractor, through to acceptance. Record test results with the acceptance testing template.
Based on: Common sewer agency development standards and specifications
Print this page for a blank field form; the website around it is left off.
Before construction
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submittals (pipe, manholes, bedding, tracer wire, testing firms) approved before the preconstruction meeting | |||
| Preconstruction meeting held with the owner, engineer, contractor and foreman; inspector given the schedule and 48 hours' notice of start (typical) | |||
| Approved construction drawings on site and in use | |||
| Plug installed and anchored where the new work connects, keeping water and debris out of the existing system Photo | |||
| Existing mains, manholes and laterals near the work located and protected |
Manholes
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhole base, sections and cone match the standard details; sections stacked plumb Photo | |||
| Joints sealed per specification (mastic or gasket) and pipe-to-manhole connections grouted or booted | |||
| Cores drilled cleanly where connecting to an existing manhole; inverts formed and channeled smoothly Photo | |||
| Drop and pressure-line connections built to the details, where used |
Pipe
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe, fittings and materials match the approved submittals | |||
| Grade and alignment match the approved drawings; no flat spots or reverse grade | |||
| Joints fully seated and pipe undamaged before backfill Photo | |||
| HDPE fusion joints made by a qualified operator, with internal beads removed where required |
Bedding and backfill
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding material and depth match the trench detail; haunches placed and compacted Photo | |||
| Initial backfill, tracer wire and marking tape placed as specified | |||
| Trench dikes or cutoffs installed on steep grades, where the drawings call for them |
Lateral stubs
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wye or tee location, stub length and slope match the drawings | |||
| Stub bedded and end-capped, with a marker post or locate at the end Photo | |||
| Low-pressure laterals: curb stop, check valve and support block installed |
Utilities
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separation from water lines and other utilities met at parallels and crossings | |||
| No construction debris, water or soil entering the existing system |
Pre-pavement
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air, vacuum, pressure and tracer wire tests and TV inspection passed and submitted before the pre-pavement inspection | |||
| Manholes, inverts and pipe clean; plywood bottoms placed in manholes before paving (typical) | |||
| Pre-pavement punch list issued and every item corrected before paving |
Final
| Item | Pass | Fail | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhole frames and covers adjusted to final grade, aligned and collared Photo | |||
| Off-road manholes marked; ground graded and revegetated around them; access roads complete Photo | |||
| Lateral stub markers in place and visible | |||
| Record drawings and final tracer wire test submitted | |||
| Plugs and plywood bottoms removed with the inspector present | |||
| Final punch list issued; warranty period start date recorded |
Photo A photo is expected with this item.
Skip the clipboard next time. Scan to try this inspection on your phone in the inspectorjay demo: geotagged photos, dictated notes, a pass or fail on every item, and the report emailed to the contractor before you leave the site.
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This checklist is a starting point. Check each item against your current permit and your agency's standards before relying on it. For sewer districts and public works departments in any state: construction and acceptance of public sewer mains, private laterals and interceptors, and grease (FOG) compliance at food service businesses. Test methods follow common standards (UNI-B-6, ASTM F1417, ASTM C1244). Values marked "typical" are common values from published sewer agency standards and pretreatment rules; replace them with your own agency's standards and ordinances.
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In inspectorjay, every item gets a pass or fail, a dictated note, and geotagged photos, and the report goes to the contractor before you leave the site.