Posts Tagged ‘water’

Water Infrastructure: The Unseen Crisis

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

As we see the obvious disasters occur, such as the BP oil spill, or the ash clouds from the Icelandic volcano, it seems that we have so many crises inundating our mass consciousness on a daily basis. What about the under reported, the de-prioritized (by the MSM) issues? Are they still relevant? Are they still tremendously impactful to our way of life? Check out the excerpt below to learn a bit more about our unseen crisis.

Steven R. Loranger – Chairman, President and CEO, ITT Corporation

Simply put, the world is running out of water – and people are feeling the impact, and the consequences. Although clean, drinkable water is among the most fundamental human needs, less than 1 percent of the world’s water is safe to drink. Freshwater withdrawals are predicted to increase by 50 percent in developing countries and 18 percent in developed countries by the year 2025. In a world where every drop counts, we must invest in the infrastructure needed to conserve clean water and prevent what is already a global shortage from becoming a crisis.

Prevent Leaks During the Cold of 2010

Monday, January 4th, 2010

As 2010 looks to be extra cold for the middle states, make sure you and your home are prepared for freezing conditions.

See what the Farmer’s Almanac has to say about the winter of 2010:

According to the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac, this winter will see more days of shivery conditions: a winter during which temperatures will average below normal for about three-quarters of the nation.

A large area of numbingly cold temperatures will predominate from roughly east of the Continental Divide to west of the Appalachians (see map). The coldest temperatures will be over the northern Great Lakes and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But acting almost like the bread of a sandwich, to this swath of unseasonable cold will be two regions with temperatures that will average closer to normal—theWest Coast and the East Coast.

This video from CBS explains issues with broken pipes and freezing plumbing.

If you suspect you have a leak contact The Original Leak Specialists.

?Symptoms of a slab leak

Monday, November 9th, 2009

The sound of running water, when no water should be running, could indicate a slab leak.

If you hear running water in your home when all should be quiet, means there is flowing water somewhere.

Your home’s plumbing is pressurized and static when all appliances and faucets are in the off position. The sound of running water is created by the vibration of the flow of water against the piping system. It means an outlet from the system is allowing flow. You will need to check all  faucets, toilets, sprinklers, as well as water connected appliances like refrigerators, clothes washers, dish washers, or water purification systems.

If you don’t find visual clues to the source of the sound of water, it could mean you have a hidden leak in the wall or under the slab.

A hot spot on the floor could indicate a hot water line leak in your slab.

Hot water lines are usually insulated and don’t heat the floor unless it was built as a radiant heating system.

If you have pets, you may notice they gravitate to a certain spot on the floor. Check to see if it feels warmer than usual.

Cracks in walls or floors could be damage from a slab leak.

There are several possible factors in the appearance of cracks in walls and floors. If you live in a seismically unstable area, it could instead have to do with shifting ground due to earthquakes.

Even if ground shifting is due to unstable ground, it could also mean the area under your property has been compromised by  water flow from a leak under your slab. If untreated, a water leak could create a massive void under the foundation. This void can put stress on the foundation, and increased stress on the foundation can cause cracks in the floors and walls.

Mildew or excessive moisture under carpets could indicate your slab is cracked and the pipes inside are leaking.

Cracks in a slab due to a leak allow moisture into the flooring. Drywall will wick the moisture up, and create an ideal environment for mold to grow behind the wall. Mold is an environmental hazard and you need to make sure that proper clean up and restoration of the property is performed. Before the restoration is performed, the mold needs to be removed. Then, the location of the source of moisture that feeds the mold can be identified and repaired.

High water bills could indicate a leak. Although a high water bill could indicate a water leak behind the wall or in your pool, plumbing under the slab is also suspect.

Unusually high water bills could occur for several reasons. Sometimes the meter is not working properly and needs to be replaced. You will need to contact your water authority for this kind of issue.

If your meter is working properly, then it comes down to usage.

Conduct the meter test to see if your toilets are leaking or if you have a hidden water leak.

The wrong way:

Bad slab leak detection

The right way:

accurate slab leak detection

Water Subcommittee Approves Major Bill to Invest in Water Infrastructure

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

Water infrastructure is the circulatory system of our nation. It looks like we will be getting funding for our aging water infrastructure which will add value to all those that partake of water. Take a look at this press release from the government.