Like almost everything
else we encountered to date in the remodeling project, the main water
supply line at 753 was obsolete and out of compliance with building
codes. There were two primary issues that needed to be addressed:
1. The piping carrying water into the house was lead. (Up into the early
1900’s lead pipes were commonly used for interior plumbing and to connect homes to public water supply lines, as was the case at 753.
Lead is now known to be a toxic metal that can cause serious health
issues; particularly in young children.)
2. The water supply line was ½ inch in diameter. (The low flow provided by a
pipe of this diameter would not provide adequate water required by
bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances in a double occupancy
residence.)
Therefore,
it was necessary to replace the water line from the curb stop (located
in either a curb box or plastic sleeve) to the house. The curb stop is
located underground and is the main shut-off point for a properties
water supply. Generally, the curb stop is located near the boundary of
your property and marks the point where the responsibility switches
from the city to the homeowner. (At 753, the piping running from the
main city waterline to the curb stop was copper; it was just the
section from the curb stop to the house that was lead.)
After
pulling the requisite plumbing and public space permits, our first task
was to locate the curb box or plastic sleeve. (For more information on
permitting for a remodeling project, see Permitting: Round 1.)
After both the DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) and Miss Utility
were unable to find the box, we had no other choice but to
systematically dig up the front yard. Upon locating the plastic sleeve
(which had been unknowingly covered in a previous landscaping project),
the real digging began, since by code, water lines are required to be
buried below frost level.
Once
the old lead line was unearthed and removed, our plumber ran a new 1
inch copper supply line from the curb stop to the crawl space under the
front living room. From here, the hot water heaters, kitchen
appliances, bathrooms and showers on both floors are supplied with
water.
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| Ditch where New Copper Water Feed Runs From Curb Stop to House |
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| Plastic Sleeve in which Curb Stop is Located |
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| Point where New Water Feed Enters Crawl Space |