PARTS OF HUBER UNDER PRESSURE
The intention of the North I-70 Water Pressure Project is to increase the pressure in the city’s water system, north of I-70, by approximately 20 psi to reach a system pressure of approximately 60 psi.
The areas affected have, in some cases, significantly lower pressures than many other areas of the city. This will increase the ability to utilize the available flow of water in the systems more uniformly throughout the city.
The plumbing of a household located in this area should be able to withstand the increase to 60 psi, as that falls well within the standard specifications for maximum working pressure of household plumbing and fixtures. There are areas of the city with water pressures close to 100 psi with no effect to household plumbing.
Currently, the system’s water pressure has been increased by 16 psi, with the final increases to be slowly introduced until it’s final pressure is achieved; therefore, the final few psi should not create issues that were not previously identified.
A few key points to consider include:
■ This pressure increase project only affects the water system north of I-70
■ From this point forward, the pressure will incrementally increase by 1 psi each time until the final pressure is reached.
■Most private water service lines (from the water meter to the house) are made of copper or PVC. Type K copper is the type typically used for residential water service lines. The maximum working pressure for both types of 1 inch pipe is over 400 psi. If a water service line develops a leak, it is most commonly caused by a defective joint connection.
■ Any household plumbing should be able to withstand the City’s pressure increase of 20 psi, provided it was properly installed and the correct materials were used at the time of installation.
■ If a home’s water service line is not currently leaking, a plumbing inspection is unlikely to prevent any leaks that could occur with the additional pressure increase.
■ Almost all homes north of I-70 are less than 40 years old. The copper and PVC pipes should have a lifespan of at least 70 to 100 years.
■A pressure-reducing valve at a residential water service line should not be necessary as the increased pressure will be brought to a normal range rather than the current low range. Installation of a reducing valve would defeat the purpose of the additional residential pressure increase.
■ In the event that a resident has installed their own residential booster pump to increase the pressure, they would need to decrease the setting on the pump as the system is increased. If the 20 psi increase is enough, then theirs can be turned off or removed. Otherwise, it can just be adjusted lower.
■ The city has experienced some water main breaks during this project related to corrosion of the water pipe. The improvements to the water system were a planned part of this overall project.