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Broken Water Main. What am I forgetting?

Waxman

Super Moderator
Going in soon; got a call about a broken water main.

I know to shut off the spot free rinse system cause it comes on automatically.

Is there anything else I am forgetting besides the HP pumps?

Weeps are down so I have my heat up and doors shut...

:eek:
 
Is the break underground? Inside or outside your building?
If its on your side of the water meter you are responsible, the supply side of the meter is the water company's responsibility. From your post I'm guessing you got the call from the water company, and the break is outside somewhere, right?

I'd also close the main shutoff inside your building.
Out of concern that some dirt got into the lines I'd be sure to flush some incoming water after they turn it back on, and be sure to clean your filters daily for the next week or so.
 
Water company is digging across the street from the wash, so yes it appears on their side.

I will flush it before washing cars.
 
If your backflow preventer was installed with unions so you can take it out easily, do that and flush as much water as you can through the main before you turn anything back on.
 
If you can, I would try to blow out all of the lines to the bays with air. That might help prevent frozen/busted lines in the ceilings if it's well below freezing.

JPRB
 
What size line feeds your carwashes guys?

Mine is 2". They think the break may be under the road. All the asphalt plants are closed. They could replace the 2" in Spring but want to push thru a 1 1/4" line for a temporary fix.

They want to know how many GPM I need but I do not know. 2 SS and 1 IBA touchfree.

TIA
 
They want to know how many GPM I need but I do not know. 2 SS and 1 IBA touchfree.TIA

I don't know how much you need, but when figuring it out take into consideration how much the solenoid valves, float valves, and Hydrominders will flow if all or most are on at the same time. The pumping capacity of the pumps isn't going to mean that much if they gravity feed from a tank.
 
[QUOTE=Waxman;36877]What size line feeds your carwashes guys?

Mine is 2". They think the break may be under the road. All the asphalt plants are closed. They could replace the 2" in Spring but want to push thru a 1 1/4" line for a temporary fix.

They want to know how many GPM I need but I do not know. 2 SS and 1 IBA touchfree.

TIA[/QUOTE]

I have three 8 bay SS car washes. All are feed with a 1 1/2 inch main. I am looking at ~ 4 gal per min on high press. Side which would = ~35 gal per minute if all the bays were on a high press. Function at once. 2 SS bays would need ~ 8-10 Gal per minute. The IBA would depend on the specs of the high press. Pump. Most are rated at 35 gal per min. That would be the max output. Most IBA's use a total of 50 - 80 gal per total wash cycle over a 5 - 8 min period. I would say you would need at least 15-20 gal per min for the IBA and 8-10 for the SS. That would be ~25gal per minute low end, up to 40gal per min on the high end. If I went to a 1 1/4 in main at 32 gal per min max I might be in trouble. You min size may be 1 1/2 in not 1 1/4 in. Ask the water co. how many gal per min the 1 1/4 in will flow? Also ask what the average street press. at your location. It would be a combination of the two. When the car wash was built with a 2 in main, it was probably more than needed, a just in case situation. The IBA will be the determining factor on what the min size water main you can have.
 
they're digging over on my side now. Looks like the leak was whwre the line ties into the 'curbstop'.??:confused:

The water well project is still on my agenda.:o
 
I would think 1 1/4" would be sufficient for a 2&1, but it depends on the city pressure. If it stays above 60 PSI to the building consistently, that would be better. If it's usually poor or drops during certain times of the day, for example nearby restaurants washing lots of dishes after a busy lunch crowd, you might have trouble.
 
I think (and hope and pray) that the point is moot.:)

That is to say they found the problem and are now making the repair. On the city's side of the curbstop, the 2" line came disconnected from the elbow to the curbstop.:o

Another problem came up; the water leaking caused a cavernous hole under the state highway!!!:confused:

MA Highway is on their way to look at the situation.:cool:
 
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070226-sinkhole-photo.html

070226-sinkhole-photo.jpg
 
You actually have pretty good work crews out there, We have alot of water breaks here due to frost and problems, all our lines are buried 8 feet deep to stay out of the frost line, but it still happens, down the street from my house a couple of months ago there was a break with water shooting 2feet high, they put barricades around it and left it for a couple of days over the weekend. The picture you emailed -- looked like a mess.
 
Water line is fixed. Water is restored to the carwash. Lines have been flushed.

Road is still closed out front. They are coming back today to patch the street and then hopefully we can re-open.

But it is raining today so maybe the timing is okay.
 
Don't know if question on line size is still relavent but we have 4 + 2 with 1 1/2 inch line. Our city pressure is about 160 and wash pressure downstream of regulator runs 55--60.

Ted
 
Original 2" line is repaired. How common is it for a directionally-drilled, under-street 2" line to become separated from itself at a valve?

Don't want this issue cropping over time. Caused by traffic/vibration, water hammering or frost? What about settling of the fill around the line?

Trying to develop plausible explanations for this to occur.:confused:
 
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