What factors affect water pressure?
In general, the residential water pressure is more dependent on the ground elevation and the design of the plumbing within a house. The higher the ground elevation, the lower the water pressure. Internal plumbing factors that can result in lower tap pressure include mixing valves, galvanized pipe, plastic pipe, and long pipe run lengths.
What is standard water pressure for residential properties in Edmonton?
The operating pressure range within a specific zone in Edmonton is 240 kPa to 700 kPa (35 to 100 psi). 140 kPA is the minimum pressure allowed by the Canadian Plumbing Code to maintain fireflow. Above 550 kPa, the Canadian Plumbing Code requires a pressure reducing valve within the property to prevent damage to internal home plumbing. If you need to find out what the normal water pressure is in a local neighbourhood, contact EPCOR at 412-6800.
What should I do if my water pressure unexpectedly drops for more than one day?
Phone the Water Trouble Line at (780) 412-6800.
What should I do when building in a low water pressure area?
When new homes are built, some design considerations should be looked at when the lowest expected pressure is less than 350 kPa (50 psi). These may include the following:
- Choose a lot at lower elevation.
- Upgrade the service line sizing.
- For long internal plumbing runs, increase the pipe size.
- To reduce pressure loss through a mixing valve fixture tap, consider using a hot and cold tap.
- Install low flow shower heads.
When installing plastic pipe within a property, increase the recommended diameter by at least one size. Plastic pipe has a smaller internal diameter than traditional copper pipe.
Do new building developments reduce overall water pressure in the distribution system?
No. Water lines in Edmonton are sized to provide sufficient water to fight fires. The volume of water required to fight a fire is substantially more than the typical volume of water used by a house. (Residential fire flow is 100 L/s, typical house peak demand is well below 1 L/s, a school or commercial property requires 300 L/s to fight fires) Our water mains are also "looped" this means that water has multiple paths that it can follow to get to any property - this further reduces the pressure losses that could be seen along the water line.
How is EPCOR's water supply used by different customers?
In Edmonton, the proportion of residential/multi-residential customers to commercial/industrial is approximately 213,000 to 16,000. We also supply wholesale water to the communities surrounding Edmonton at seven supply points. The percentage of water used in each customer class is as follows: 25% to surrounding communities, 49% residential, 26% commercial/industrial.
How much treated water is produced each day?
An average of 350 ML/day are produced by EPCOR. However, the volume of water that we produce on any day is dependent on the quality and characteristics of the river on a daily basis. River water that is cold must spend a longer time in the treatment process - reducing our treated volume capacity. As the river water warms up, we can treat the water more quickly and produce more filtered water for our customers - this corresponds with the increase in customer needs.
Is the water supply enough to meet the demand in the long term?
Upgrades to the E.L. Smith water treatment plant, completed in 2008, ensure there is enough water for Edmonton and region until at least 2023.
How do I determine the fire protection available at my property?
EPCOR can provide a fire flow test to help validate the fire protection in front of your property. This is especially useful for commercial properties.
Phone (780) 412-3181 for a cost estimate.