def change_to_pubs_test(pubs_url):
    """
    flips pubs urls to pubs-test urls to work around annoying apache config on test tier
    :param pubs_url: a pubs.er.usgs.gov url
    :return: a pubs-test.er.usgs.gov url
    """
    pubs_test_url = pubs_url.replace('pubs.er', 'pubs-test.er')
    return pubs_test_url