What happens when a water main breaks?

When a main break occurs, Edgeworth Water’s top priority is to stop water loss and return service to the affected customers as quickly as possible. Once a possible water main break is reported, a crew is immediately dispatched to the site to determine if it is a main break and to set up safety equipment. If there is a main break, the crew immediately locates and closes nearby valves to isolate the broken main from the water system, closing the valves closest to the break to minimize service disruptions to customers. Once the valves are shut off, Edgeworth Water notifies Pennsylvania One Call of the impending excavation so the water main and other utilities near the water main break can be identified. Repair work cannot begin until all other utilities in the area are identified so the crew does not damage them.

After the utility lines are marked, excavation can begin. Construction equipment helps to remove most of the ground above the pipe and a pump helps to remove water from the excavated trench. Most Edgeworth Water pipes are buried from three to 10 feet below ground, so depending on the depth, additional measures may need to be taken to ensure the safety of the workers, which can extend the time it takes to repair a break.

Once the pipe is exposed, crews can begin to repair or replace the broken main. When the repair is complete, crews open up a nearby hydrant to flush air and debris from the pipe before reconnecting it to the system. It can take a while for large mains to refill and restore system pressures. Next, the repair crew backfills the trench with gravel and prepares the road for patching. A temporary patch may be required.

We recognize the inconvenience that a main break can cause and always tries to restore service as quickly as we can. Fortunately, Edgeworth Water has fewer main breaks than many other utilities and we repair the breaks and restore service in an average of four hours. But as you can see, repair times can be affected by many factors and it is vital that our crews take the time to execute each step properly to avoid further damage and to ensure the safety of the community and the workers.

What causes water main breaks?

Water main breaks are caused by a variety of factors, including freezing or severe weather, pipe corrosion, soil conditions, age, ground movement, or being struck by heavy equipment. Edgeworth Water’s distribution system monitored continually for old or problem areas. Edgeworth Water Board of Directors dedicates funding on an annual basis to ensure that the system can be upgraded and replace as needed without placing a financial or service burden on our customers. As a result, Edgeworth Water experiences fewer water main breaks annually than many other water utilities.

Is there anything I need to do when my water service is restored?

In many cases it is necessary to interrupt water service to homes in the area around a water main break. Unfortunately, interrupting your water service may stir up sediment in the pipe and cause water containing this sediment to enter nearby homes. If the water service is interrupted in your neighborhood, you can help prevent sediment clogs by removing the aerators from sinks and washing machines and running the water for a few minutes to flush your pipes.

The hardness is approximately 70 mg/l (4.5 grains/gal).

A1: Checking for leaks at your meter.
First you need to turn off all water using appliances and fixtures. Then observe the little red dial located on the register. If the dial is rotating (even slightly), there is water leaking.

Checking for toilet leaks
A2: Toilet leaks can be detected by adding a few drops of food coloring to the water in the toilet tank. Leave the food coloring in the tank for at least ten minutes. If colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking.

Yes. Edgeworth water contains approximately .7 part per million of Fluoride.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the American Dental Association and other leading public health authorities continue to recommend optimal community water fluoridation as a significant health benefit. Edgeworth Water has added fluoride since 1966 to reduce the incidence of tooth decay in our community.The goal of community water fluoridation is to achieve the desired oral health benefit while minimizing potential health risks. That is why water providers undergo thorough and extensive training to safely apply fluoride in the amount recommended by the world’s most respected public health authorities.

HHS recently proposed recommendations to lower the recommended amount of fluoride, since it recognizes that water is now one of many sources of fluoride. We add fluoride in the amount recommended by the leading health authorities and in a manner consistent with established best practices. We are aware of the proposed HHS recommendations and will continue to monitor and review our processes.

Bills can be paid at the Authority’s office at 313 Beaver Road during regular business hours, or there is a payment slot for after hours bill payment. You can also have your bills set up for automatically payment, see Auto-Pay Program. NEW pay your water bill Online by electronic check or credit card. Just click on the PAY NOW button on the Home page.

The property owner is liable to pay the tenant’s unpaid bill for service rendered to the tenant by the Authority. A landlord can elect to have a duplicate bill sent to their tenant. The Authority will attempt to collect any unpaid balance from a tenant if they are set up to get notifications of account balances.

Residential and commercial meters are read every quarter.

Please contact the business office at (412) 741-5100, Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 3:00PM. At least 48 hours prior to the closing date, so a final reading can be set up. Required information is as follows: date of closing (reading will be scheduled the day of closing) and your forwarding address so that the final bill or refund can be sent. The new owner needs to sign a contract and pay the $30.00 account set up fee.

Residential customers are responsible for section of waterline from the shut off valve located near the edge of the street (curb stop) up to the water meter. Also all plumbing after the meter is the customer’s responsibility.