water mains 4

[donsch]

I live on a dead-end street my town is putting in water mains. I would like to know will the water be ok because it's on a dead end line and is it safe to do that

 

[bimr]

Depends on the length of the piping arrangement. Water utilities usually loop the ends of water mains to avoid dead legs.

If you are on a long dead leg, the water is usually safe to drink, but there may be aesthetic issues such as taste and odors periodically during the year.

If you complain, the water utility will come out and flush the water main through a hydrant.

 

[coloeng]

It depends on what size of pipe is installed, the length of it and how many people receive service from it. If it is a large, long pipe with very few services, as bimr indicated you may have aesthetic issues. If it is a relatively small pipe with many services, there probably won't be any issues. Its all about reducing the time that the water is in the pipe.

 

[LincolnPE]

Yes, because they are required to put a blow-off hydrant/assembly at the end of dead end lines for flushing maintenance. You can ask the town engineer about that and they will be able to explain.

 

[LincolnPE]

I wanted to also add these dead-end lines are typically not allowed to be longer than 600' for 6" and 8" mains.

 

[rconner]

As another has mentioned "blowoff hydrants" on this thread, I guess you should also be advised that if fire hydrants (that I kind of doubt in your case, but do not know) at least by any chance are involved there may be even other concerns re "safety" and codes/insurance in that regard depending on length and size of dead-end etc. (see e.g. past lengthy thread at

http://eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=138596,

that discusses similar issues most as have been well-explained by others above and others).