Water is supplied to the property line from the street water mains of the local utility company. There is a shutoff valve called a curb valve at the property line, and it can be used to control the water supply to the house. If the water bill is not paid on time, the water company can close this valve and shut off water supply. The pipe that delivers the water to the house – the house service main – runs from the curb valve to just inside the house, and it is the responsibility of the homeowner. If water is not supplied by a local utility company, it will be supplied by a well-pumping system.
The cold water is distributed inside the house to the various fixtures installed throughout the house. The homeowner can use the shutoff valve located at the house inlet to close the water supply for the entire house. If there is a water meter in the system, it will generally be located inside the house, near the inlet, before any branch connections. It may also be found near the curb valve. The cold water pipe has a branch connection usually located near the inlet, that directs a portion of the water to a heater for generating the domestic hot water.
The water heater can be either a separate stand-alone unit, or part of the heating system. Distribution piping for the hot water will run from the heater to the various fixtures throughout the house. Very often, the hot water pipes are near and parallel to the cold water pipes, but they should be at least six inches apart so that the heat from the hot water pipes does not affect the temperature of the cold water system.
Water Supply and Distribution Inspection – Ensuring Safe Drinking Water
Safe drinking water is essential and is given significant scrutiny, especially in food service establishments. Water samples must be checked for bacteria, pesticides, trace metals, alkalinity and chemicals. Before leasing or buying a site, a safe drinking water test is in order, but before the water is inspected in a laboratory you can do your own inspection, based on your senses.
- taste or odor – such issues are generally caused by the presence of organic materials in the drinking water
- color - expert water quality advice is required. Iron or manganese within the water supply can result in odd colors. Filtering might help, but eliminating this issue is surprisingly technical.
- turbidity – the water looks cloudy or murky when solids are suspended in it. Filtration with a water-softening system is an affordable, low-maintenance solution.
- corrosion – may stem from oxygen or carbon dioxide getting trapped inside the drinking water supply, and is often caused through the level of acidity within the water system. It affects the pipes and gear, but can be corrected by installing a filtration system. A safe drinking water quality specialist can determine what kind and how extensive the problem is.
- water hardness – indicates a high proportion of minerals and/or salts, which eventually causes a buildup of scales on gear. It requires constant preventative maintenance to prevent clogging of tanks and water lines, as well as equipment malfunction.
Hire a qualified professional to check your water supply and distribution system, water purification facilities, the sanitary and ship canal, as well as the chlorination of urban water, in order to ensure the safe drinking water distribution networks function properly. An expert will also be able to give you quality advice on maintenance, irrigation, sanitation, and other important aspects.