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Your Water Pressure Explained PDF
Your Water Pressure Explained PDF
pressure explained
water networks your responsibility
the number of customers using the water 5 The communication pipe Scottish Water
supply at the same time. Mornings and our aim 6 The water main Scottish Water
early evening are the most common times Scottish Water will guarantee 1.0 bar 7 Sewer Scottish Water
possible solutions There are two main types of domestic The mains water comes in via a rising
water systems available – indirect and main and directly feeds at least one
Pipe size If your flow issues are related to Flats Usually water pressure/flow direct. The flow and pressure at your cold tap at the kitchen sink with
pipe diameter you can either install a problems in flats are due to old internal mains should determine which type is ‘potable’ water (i.e. water which is fit
storage cistern which will help to provide plumbing systems that were not designed suitable for your home. for drinking, cooking etc) and may
a constant supply, or re-lay your supply to accommodate modern appliances. In also feed a washing machine, a
pipe in a larger size. Alternatively, to most cases, the property owner of the shower and an outside tap etc. The
improve flow you could consider a new high rise building has the responsibility to indirect systems rising main also feeds a storage tank
water connection or replace old lead ensure upper floors receive adequate The most common method of at a high point in the building from
pipes if appropriate especially if you are flow/pressure. This responsibility can be distributing water throughout a house where the water is fed to all the other
currently supplied water via a communal/ shared between the housing association, before 1989 was through a water taps etc using gravity. This is the type
shared pipe. Local Authority and/or private owners. supply pipe which fed into the kitchen of system where air locks would
You are advised to contact the owners if sink. The pipe would then continue typically occur in the parts of the
you experience pressure/flow issues. up into the roof space and feed a system not on mains pressure.
flow restrictions storage cistern which can hold water
To ensure you are receiving maximum for a 24 hour period.
flow check whether your internal stop leaks
valve is fully open. Your internal stop Leaks can reduce the flow of water A storage cistern distributes water direct systems
valve is generally located under your reaching your appliances. They will through two pipes – one to supply A direct water supply system is one
kitchen sink and operates by moving not always be visible on the surface cold water to the bath and toilet, the where the raising main directly feeds
the valve clockwise to close or but you may be able to hear a hissing other supplies cold water to a hot the cold water taps and a multi point
anti-clockwise to open. sound from the pipes inside the water cylinder that heats and feeds all water heater.
property. You are responsible for hot taps.
repairing any leaks on your pipework The mains water comes in via a rising
Shared supply You can either install although there are instances where Indirect systems do not rely on a main and directly feeds all the cold
a storage cistern ensuring you have a Scottish Water provide assistance to specific level of water pressure as the taps and a multi point water heater
water supply whenever you need it. You resolve leakage within the boundary water supply for the house is drawn – so all the taps and other water
may also want to consider a new water of your property. If your pipework has from the storage cistern. The storage feeds are at mains water pressure.
connection or replace old lead pipes if been incorrectly installed, your flow cistern automatically fills up after Note that this is just a reference to
appropriate, which would provide you and pressure can be affected. If you water has been used which ensures a the hot and cold water supplies to
with your own water supply pipe. are unsure, contact a registered constant supply. the taps etc, we are not dealing with
plumber on www.needaplumber.org the central heating system which
An indirect water supply system is works from the water heater (boiler).
also the most common type found in
modern houses.
our investigation investigation timescales
If you contact our customer helpline On some occasions further work is Below is a table of further
regarding low pressure our customer required by other functions within investigation procedures and
service adviser will first check to make sure Scottish Water to complete our low timescales, please note all day
your low pressure enquiry is not linked to pressure investigation. On these investigations are classed as
a network activity. occasions our customer representative working days:
will manage your expectations by
providing you with the correct timescales
Once the customer service adviser has • Check your control valve is in the for further work to be carried out.
checked the low pressure is not linked fully open position
to a network activity they will arrange a
visit from one of our field customer • Check there are no leaks on your Work to be carried out Timescale
representatives to check the water water supply pipe
pressure at your property. The field Carry out an urgent repair on the water network 6hrs
customer representative will start their • Check for any chokes on your water
investigation by checking the pressure supply pipe Carry out a repair on the water network 3 days
at your kitchen tap or where the water
first enters your property. If the pressure • Check the water mains which supplies Check the pressure at the boundary of the property 3 days
recorded is lower than expected our the property for any signs of leakage
field customer representative will then: Check water network assets in your area 6hrs
• Check there are no valves left in the
• Compare the pressure in the partially shut position from prior work Complex network investigation 3 days
property to the pressure recorded on the network
on the water main Full leakage network investigation 10 days
Scottish Water advise that any installations what does this mean? will I notice a change in my if I am thinking of installing a
or upgrades (including hot water systems) Through the use of a range of innovative water supply if I stay in a combination boiler or a mains
should not be dependant on water techniques, such as valves that allow us to pressure managed area? fed shower, should I get the
pressure in excess of 1.0 bar. Your current control water pressure, we are working to For the majority of customers any water pressure checked at my
pressure may be in excess of this but we reduce interruptions to water supplies. If changes to pressure will be minimal – property before I proceed?
cannot guarantee that the pressure will the pressure is high especially in some in fact you may not even notice the Yes, combination boilers and mains fed
always remain at this level. older pipes, this can cause damage and change in certain areas. We manage showers generally need 1.0 bar of
leaks leading to the loss of precious pressure in a manner that ensures there pressure to function effectively
treated water from the network. is minimal customer impact. compared to a conventional boiler
pressure management which can run on as little as 0.5 bar of
We are continually striving to monitor why is high pressure a problem? pressure, so always get the pressure
water pressures across Scotland and High pressure can put water mains, checked by a certified plumber to
prevent any interruption to your water internal pipework and fittings under ensure the pressure at your property will
supply. Sometimes, in areas where strain and cause them to burst, leading accommodate a combination boiler and
water pressure is high there is a risk to leaks and threatening to interrupt a mains fed shower.
of more pipes bursting which can your water supply.
result in a interruption to your water does low pressure affect my
supply or discolouration of your water where is my stop valve for my central heating system?
supply. In these areas we manage the property usually located? No, most central heating systems are
water pressure to try and minimise The internal stop valve for any property “closed systems” this means the water
the risk of burst pipes so we can is usually located under the your kitchen is contained and recycled within the
ensure that you receive the best sink or where the water first enters your system. Multipoint or instantaneous
possible service from us. property. boilers will also not be affected as a coil
inside the boiler means they can
how can I ensure I maximise my function with low water pressure.
water pressure and flow?
Check that your internal stop valve is
open fully. To open the stop valve fully
turn the stop valve anti-clockwise. To
ensure there is no build up of debris
behind the stop valve, open and close
the stop valve several times, this should
clear any excess debris.
low pressure – customer journey
step 1 step 2
Customer calls the Customer service adviser
customer helpline on 0845 logs the call and takes
601 8855 to report low down the task details e.g.
pressure to their property location and services
affected
step 3
Customer service adviser arranges for a customer
representative to attend. The customer representative
then accepts the task and makes his way to site.
step 4
Customer representative arrives Step 5
on site to reassure the customer If the customer representative determines
and to locate and determine the that the pressure is low he will carry out
cause of the low pressure further investigation on our network. In
problem. This will involve most cases the pressure issue would be
checking the pressure at the resolved at this point. If the problem still Step 6
customer’s property either at the remains or cannot be found at this point, We will contact the customer to
kitchen tap or where the water our representative will arrange for further advise of the results of any further
enters the building. investigation or a repair to be made. investigations.
how did we do
Visit www.scottishwater.co.uk/gem
or call our Customer Helpline on
0845 601 8855* to make your nomination.