the water pressure is now half of what it should be. The city (new york city) says the pressure on the block is fine.. it is my problem. we have had at least 3 water main breaks on the block in the last 2 years.

the water meter is good. I had a new water line installed about 5 years ago.

My neighbor said I might have dirt or something in the water line . can the water line be cleaned out without digging up the street?

regards,
sheryl

sheryl, you have to understand the difference between reduced pressure and reduced volume.
reduced pressure would not be caused by debris in your piping. debris in your piping WILL cause reduced volume.
if you have a pressure reducing valve on your water main, it most likely has a filter screen in it and that could be clogged.
to answer your question, the water main can be blown out without digging it up. but, i doubt that is your problem. it is more apt to be in a shut off that has some debris caught in it..

I don't know what the difference between reduce volume and pressure.

When the meter person came and disconnected by my meter to see if it was clogged, he also turned on the value to see the flow and water was not flowing strong. is that pressure or flow?

thanks so much for responding.

sheryl

Reduced flow ahead (upstream) of the meter would suggest that there is restriction in the underground water line from the street to your house. Your water line is relatively new; it should be fine, so there may be a problem between the city main and your house connection.

Until you know WHY the pressure is low, there is no way to tell you how to cure it, but the worst thing you could do would be to start digging up the pipe.

quote; reduced pressure would not be caused by debris in your piping. debris in your piping WILL cause reduced volume.

Volume is a function of pressure, so if something is affecting the "dynamic" pressure it WILL also reduce the volume.

quote; is that pressure or flow?

IN a way it is BOTH, since they are interrelated.

now the big question. how to get it fix? is there a specialist who deals in this type of problem? the company that did the new main is retired, so I feel so lost at how to proceed.

sheryl

of course there are companies that deal with your type problem. the point becomes getting one that is honest, reliable and reasonable.
i think i would go to the department of public works and ask to meet with a supervisor or the director him/her self.
i don't have a lot of confidence in the average DPW worker.
good luck..

In most cases, public utility workers cannot, or will not, make a recommendation, because that would give them some liability if the company turned out to be unsuitable. You need a plumber to determine exactly what the problem is. Once you know that, then the solution may be obvious.

I have had two plumbers. One suggested putting in a water pump and the other took out the meter to no avail.

To look at the connection to the city water requires digging up the street.

sheryl

i have seen the DPW remove the meter and then open and close the shutoff on the street a number of times. this loosen any rust/debris in the shut off and blows it thru the pipe and into a bucket.
installing a tank and pump would do no good unless the tank was giant size..