Call our emergency hotline: (215) 685-6300

To notify a primary rupture, water shortage, or any other water crisis.

What to do after PWD’s crews finish working

Here are some tips for clearing debris and sediment from your water pipes after making repairs to the street. Repairing or replacing the pipes near your home can allow debris and sediment to enter your water service.

What to expect if a water main breaks nearby

The main reason to shut down the emergency isolation is that breaks in the main can cause temporary loss of service or even loss of water pressure.

Customers who are impacted are informed promptly, typically with a door tag on the main entrance of the premises.

In certain scenarios, such as water main ruptures that happen during nighttime, water is typically reinstated by the next day. The majority of water supply disruptions are resolved within a span of six to eight hours.

Don’t fret! Unless instructed otherwise by a PWD representative, your drinking water is secure.

How will PWD respond?

Responding to main breaks

Why do water mains break?

The durability of the pipe exceeds the pressures exerted on it during water mains failure. The water mains tend to weaken due to corrosion, whether it be internal or external; in reality, they do not strengthen over time.

Note: The last wooden mains of PWD were removed from service in 1858.

External forces on a water main include:

The imbalance of stresses to the strength of a pipe may show itself in various ways, such as:

Types of Mains

Three distinct classifications of pipe transport water from water treatment facilities to a customer’s premises.

How is PWD attempting to reduce water main breaks?

We strive to enhance and consistently monitor our infrastructure to ensure efficient and secure service delivery, while minimizing disruptions. PWD has implemented multiple ongoing initiatives to prevent pipe failures and main breaks.

Main replacement

The main goal of this program is to maintain a high level of water service reliability and achieve a full useful life for every main water replacement. Generally, the program uses a systematic approach to asset management and prioritizes replacements based on a scoring system. It frequently experiences higher priority breaks and the replacement of older assets. Nonetheless, the program still aims to achieve a high level of reliability and maintain a high level of water service.

See active and upcoming water main replacement projects →

Corrosion testing

This program of relining and cleaning can extend the useful life of the main transmission and reduce leaks. Additionally, our rehabilitation and testing program prevents breaks in the large cast iron mains transmission and also reduces corrosion.

Cathodic protection

The fresh primary necessitates cathodic safeguard if the circumstances dictate inspectors to mend or substitute the primary during examination. The primary water pipelines, which may cause weak spots, can be guarded against external corrosion from electric stray current or soil conditions by implementing a cathodic protection program.

Leak detection

An expert leak detection firm examines the more profound, bigger transmission mains. Acoustic tools are employed to examine one third of the municipal water mains annually, concentrating on concealed leaks on both transmission and distribution mains.