Water Pressure in Sandy City

Water distribution systems require several components to operate properly:

• A source of water; river, reservoir, lake or well.
• Pumps to pump the water to a storage tank and out into the system.
• Water tanks for emergency storage and to maintain pressure throughout the system.
• Water pipes to convey water from the tanks to the consumer.
• Valves to control the flow of water.

Sandy City’s water sources are Little Cottonwood Creek, Bell Canyon Creek, Deer Creek Reservoir, and 22 wells located within the City. The City also has 10 storage tanks located within the city. These tanks provide storage for emergencies, provide a place for excess water to go or come from as demand increases or decreases, and create the pressure within the system to deliver the water to your home or business.

We live in a mountainous area and our water tanks are generally located on top of hills or in the foothills east of Sandy. Water pressure for business and residents in Sandy can vary greatly depending on where you live. The land on the western boundary of Sandy is approximately 1000 feet lower than the eastern foothills. The water pressure you have at your residence or business depends on whether you live near the same elevation as the tank or at a lower elevation. Pressure is also affected by how much water is stored in a tank at any given time. The lower the water level, the less pressure you have down stream.

The City is divided into 6 pressure zones; each zone has a water tank and wells or booster stations that supply water to that tank. Water lines for all the zones are interconnected so that water may be moved from one area to another depending on the demand. The zones are separated by pressure reducing valves (PRV’s). These valves keep water pressure from becoming excessive in the lower zones. Even with these valves in place, pressures can vary from 40 pounds per square inch (psi) to 200 psi, depending on where you live in a zone. Residents who live at the bottom of these pressure zones can experience water pressures in excess of 120 psi. These pressures can damage plumbing inside the home and pipes and valves in your sprinkler system if they are not protected by a pressure reducing valve.

There are several steps that homeowners should take to help protect the water system inside and outside their home.

• Check the water pressure at your home. The Public Utilities Department can assist you with this if you call and request assistance.
• Install a pressure reducing valve inside your home, if you do not currently have one. Current plumbing codes call for a PRV to be installed in all new homes. If you live in an older home you may not have a PRV protecting you.
• If water pressure in your area exceeds 80 psi, install a PRV on your sprinkler system. These valves are generally installed between the meter and your sprinkler control valve box.
• Be careful where you install sprinkler control valves. Do not install them next to window wells. These valves do fail from time to time and locating them next to a window well almost always results in a flooded basement.
• Have a licensed plumber check your PRV to make sure it is working properly. This should be done any time you feel you have excessive pressure inside your home, but generally every 10 or 15 years.

If you have question or concerns, please call Public Utilities at 352-4400.