CONNECTION STAGES

The conditions of connection shall specify the nearest two or more locations, if any, where connection to the centralized water supply and sewerage networks can be made. The nearest location is not necessarily the most suitable for a quality connection. Sometimes it is recommended to connect to more distant networks but with a more reliable water supply. In cases where future centralized networks are foreseen in the vicinity of the site, the conditions shall allow for the temporary installation of a local water borehole or wastewater treatment plant.
Once we have received the authorization, we can apply to Vilniaus vandenis on your behalf for the issuance of conditions.

When we first arrive on site and assess the situation, we immediately give you a timeframe and estimate for the planned work. This saves us and you time. If the price suits you, we can start work shortly.

Water supply and sewage are only part of the house’s communications. Other utilities such as electricity, gas and telecommunications are also laid at different depths underground. The project involves assessing where your and your neighbours’ other communications are located so that they are not damaged when laying new pipes. This is the most time-consuming stage, as it requires coordination with several different responsible authorities.

Once the project is ready, Vilniaus vandenys issues a permit to connect to the municipal network.

At this stage, a representative of each authority shall relay the location of the adjacent utilities to the location on the drawings, visit the site and use certain apparatus to verify.

We dig and lay the pipes in the project area and connect them to the mains. Our advantage is that we can connect to the mains without interrupting their normal work. This also saves time. Otherwise, we would have to give 15 days’ notice to other consumers that the water supply will be suspended for a while.

When new pipelines have been laid but not yet buried, a representative from Vilniaus vandenų or another trunk network manager is invited to visually assess the slope of the wastewater pipe and the quality of the work, and if no deficiencies are found, give permission to bury. Usually, to save time, we call the inspector ourselves.

The geodetic image shall show the location of each new communication object installed in relation to 3 different obvious objects. It is made because sometimes, during the execution of the works, it is necessary to deviate from the design. The geodetic control image records the actual location of the pipelines and is the definitive document that can be relied upon for the construction of any underground communication. In the case of connections to centralizsed water and wastewater networks, two geodetic photographs are taken: one for the water pipes and one for the wastewater pipes.

A video camera is used to film the inner part of the pipe from the inside, to assess whether it is damaged, cracked or correctly connected. This is because the responsibility for the continued operation of the newly laid pipes, once the work has been completed, will fall on the centralized water supply and wastewater network manager.

The water pressure is raised to 11 bar in a certain section of the pipe, which is several times more than normal. The test is carried out to see if the connections can withstand the hydraulic shocks that could occur if a large-diameter valve were to be closed suddenly at either end. This sometimes happens.

Often, new water pipes are only flushed with water, after running it at a higher flow rate from the tap. In fact, this should be done using Sodium Hypochlorite Solution, a disinfectant liquid that kills bacteria dangerous to human health. After rinsing, the pipework is rinsed again with water.

A sample of water taken from a new water main is analyzed in a laboratory to check for the presence of dangerous bacterial colonies.

The final installation step involves installing a water metering unit in the wall of the building, where the water meter will be placed. In Vilnius, the meter is installed and sealed by the network manager, Vilniaus vandenys.

All stages of installation are documented. If all documents are accurate and no defects are found, the pipelines are finally handed over to the manager within one day. The connection of water supply and wastewater to the mains is considered complete if the site is also finished with the landscaping works, such as lawns, roads and paths. If these are not completed, they shall be considered a defect. A defect certificate shall be drawn up and the file with the certificate shall be given to the customer. Later, when the environment has been cleaned up, the network manager will remove it. If the environment is cleaned up and there are no defects, the file is handed over to the network manager. The job is done!