New water mains

All new water mains should be disinfected after construction is completed. Disinfections should be in accordance with the most recent version of American Water Works Association Standards, and chemicals used in the disinfection's process should be up to standards. After disinfections but prior to placing a storage tank into active service, a water sample representative of stored water in the storage tank should be collected and analyzed for total coliform bacteria, total and free chlorine residual, and physical parameters. Test results should meet the water quality standards before you place a new water main into active service. Samples should be collected after chlorine levels have been reduced to levels typically found in the system. If the original total coliform bacteria sample is positive, two repeat enumerated total coliform samples should be collected at least 24 hours apart. If two samples show the presence of coliform bacteria, the storage tank should be disinfected again. Chlorine levels should be brought down to the levels normally found in the distribution system before the water is used for consumption.

Water main repairs

Some breaks, leaks and water main bursts occur on private property. The location of the damage can be investigated and determined by city officials, and if it discovered that the damage has occurred on private property, the property owner is responsible for having the break or leak repaired. Prior to making any repairs when a water main bursts, one should be sure to find the main water shut off valve. If a pipe break occurs, a two-minute delay can result in roughly a bathtub full of spilled water, which can cause extensive damage to a home or other private property. The ability to quickly locate a wrench and the main water shut off valve can save a private property owner thousands of dollars in damage. Most homes drawing from a municipal water supply will have the shut off valve located near the water meter, often near the street in an underground access hatch. Lots of homes have extra shut off valves that can turn off specific sections of the water supply to complete water main repair. For example, in cold weather locations, the shut off valve is often located inside the house, in the basement or even under the kitchen sink or a closet floor. This sort of valve usually shuts off all the water inside the property, leaving the outside plumbing, sprinklers and service to other property buildings in working order. Inside your home you will find more shut off valves localized to the fixtures that use them, including the water heater, dishwasher, and toilets. If you are unable to locate or unable to access your water main shut off valve, contact your water company. The local water company is often quite helpful and may even send a professional out to help locate the valve and demonstrate the proper shutoff technique. This may help you later to prevent a water main burst.

Prevent water main bursts

The most common reason for a water main to break or leak is frigid weather. Both air and water temperatures can cause water main breaks and leaks. Hot and/or dry weather is the second most common cause of breaks and leaks in water mains. When the whether gets hot and temperature increases, the ground dries out and shifts, causing the pipes to move and they break because increased volume and pressure can stress water mains.

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