Water Distribution System     The water distribution system is the essential link between the water supply source and the consumer. It is not just the main that runs down your street, quite the contrary. It is an elaborate conveyance system that allows water to be moved through miles of piping before reaching your tap. Pumps allow water to move through the system; valves allow water pressure and flow direction to be regulated along the way.     The Water Distribution Division is responsible for the maintenance of water mains, water services, fire hydrants, water valves and backflow devices located within the City's service area. In short, the Distribution Division ensures that treated water is delivered to your tap. The Water Utility Supervisor - Distribution supervises five field crews as part of day to day operations. In addition, a Water System Specialist is responsible for the management and implementation of the Cross Connection Control Program as required by the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act and a Water Conservation Specialist administers the City's Water Conservation Program.     540 miles of water mains deliver approximately 24,000 acre feet of water per year to more than 27,700 residential and commercial customers within our service area. Water mains vary in size from 1 inch to 48 inches in diameter. Approximately 4,187 hydrants, 7,000 valves and 400 cross connection control devices complete the distribution network. Employee knowledge of the distribution system and expertise in maintenance and repair helps ensure the City delivers safe, high-quality water to our customers.     The current focus of our Distribution crews is the repair and replacement of the more than 3,000 polybutylene services which remain in our system. Polybutylene service connections have been leaking due to premature pipe failure and our crews have replaced approximately 3,200 polybutylene services with copper services. This is an expensive and time-consuming process; however, maintaining the integrity of the distribution system is our top priority.     Take a look at our distribution crews in action. Click on the images below to enlarge them.

From the early 1970's through 1986, The City of Redding, along with many utilities throughout the country, allowed the use of polybutylene plastic piping as an alternative to copper tubing for service connections - the stretch of water pipe from the main to the meter at a private residence or a commercial residence. Due to the chemical breakdown of the plastic material, we began to experience a substantial increase in repairs of leaking service lines, often resulting in the full replacement of the service line. Eventually, the use of polybutylene tubing was discontinued; however, the Water Utility implemented a replacement program to target those areas most prone to leaks. In doing so, we were able to decrease our material and labor costs far below the cost of performing emergency repair work. Replacing service lines at scheduled times also keeps disruption of service to our customers to a minimum. If you happen to see a backhoe, a dump truck, and a crew of 2 or 3 workers digging holes in your street, chances are, it's one of our water crews hard at work.

The pictures below show a typical polybutylene replacement.

1. Water leak in the street and Underground Service Alert (USA) locate lines   2. Jackhammering the area for excavation   3. Removing the asphalt concrete to begin excavation   4. Excavating the trench with vacuum excavator truck   5. Locating the water main in the trench   6. Water service and other utilities at the water main   7. Excavating water service and other utilites at curbside   8. Water service and other utilities at curbside   9. Backhoe pulling a new copper service through the old polybutylene service   10. Backhoe with copper tubing attached   11. Connecting the new copper service line to the main  

Backflow Devices help protect the municipal water supply from contamination because they prevent water from moving backwards into the water system through combinations of check valves or hydraulic breaks. The backflow device below is currently located in a vault underground; however, the vault tends to flood making repairs difficult. Our water distribution crew is replacing the underground device with a new above ground device. For more information about backflow devices, please read about our Cross Connection Control Program

1. Backflow device located in a vault underground  2. Device being hoisted out of vault with truck crane  3. Device out of vault and on truck  4. Distribution workers bolting the new device together  5. New device being installed above ground 

1. Dry barrel fire hydrant designed to beak off at base when hit by a vehicle  2. Fire Hydrant at break off joint showing shaft that operates valve in base of hydrant  3. Close up showing break off 

New Fish & Game regulations require the use of dirt bags or dams to filter water being discharged into a storm drain. However, when a water break occurs, the main must be excavated and the water and fill material must be disposed of in order to make the repair. A dirt bag is placed near the point of excavation so that excess dirt, gravel and/or other contaminants do not enter storm drain pipes or channels. An additional dirt bag has been placed directly in front of the entrance to the storm drain to capture more material.

1. Trench where main is located is being excavted and dirty water is being filtered through a dirtbag  2. Close-up of dirtbag trapping debris  3. Dirtbag is also placed over storm drain to prevent dirty water from entering storm drain system and flowing to the river