Recently in NYC a family purchased a new home and were in the preparation stages of their renovation. The family’s general contractor suggested that they inspect both the water line and sewer before the renovation begins. It is common to become aware of a water main or sewer problem only after moving into the house, and starting to utilize all of the plumbing fixtures. In this case the sewer line was inspected with a camera and turned out to be in perfect condition. The water pressure turned out to be a concern and especially as the family was planning on adding a few bathrooms.
A licensed water main and sewer contractor was contacted to determine what size water line would provide adequate volume and water pressure to the home. The primary factors considered to properly size the water line included the total amount of plumbing fixtures, distance of the house from the city water main in the roadway and the rate of flow. The current 3/4” lead water main now had to be replaced with a new 1 ¼” copper water main.
Old lead water main |
Preparing for the tap |
Another factor is the tap connection to the city water line .The tap is a valve that connects the homeowner’s water line, to the city water line and regulates the amount of volume and pressure coming from the city main. The larger the tap, the more pressure and volume to support the house. The DEP tap records showed a 5/8” tap which now had to be replaced with a new 1” tap.
DEP installs new tap |
The new tap |
Harris Water & Sewer now applied for all required DEP permits and DOT permits to open the roadway. All permits were released within one week and the roadway excavation was completed for the new tap connection two days later.
After the tap was installed, the on-site crew made tunnels from the roadway hole, to the hole made on the property and at this point inside the house. The new copper water main was now pulled from one hole to the next and connected in the street and inside the house.
Tunneling for new copper |
New copper water main |
The home renovation was completed two months later when the family moved into the house and was extremely pleased with the amount of water pressure in their house.
