Water pressure issues

Overview

Water pressure in the Vancouver system is largely provided by gravity from higher elevation source waters. The City has been divided into a number of areas by elevation in order to maintain reasonable water pressures in the City.

Pressure and Flow Regulating Valve Stations

The City operates 30 pressure reducing valves (PRV) stations and one combined PRV/Flow Regulating valve station in order to control pressures. These stations serve as the principle source of flows reducing pressures to acceptable levels for the lower elevation pressure zones in the City water system.

At lower elevations this is accomplished by supplying water from a transmission main through a pressure reducing valve station (PRV). While some sections of the system receive supplementary pumping to boost pressures, there is still adequate pressure in the event of a pump station failure to avoid cross-connection contamination. The water system is also designed with redundancy, so that the loss of any one source, transmission or distribution component can be repaired without a total pressure loss. These stations are on a maintenance program that ensures overall reliability of the water system.

Pressure zones in Vancouver

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High water pressure in your home

A sudden high water pressure in the entire house may be from a malfunctioned pressure reducing valve (PRV). To address this problem call a plumber at your own expense to inspect the pressure reducing valve.

Low water pressure in your home

Low water pressure may be from your plumbing system or from the City water distribution system.

If the problem is isolated to one fixture, the fixture may be faulty. Clean, repair or replace the fixture.

If the problem is a sudden drop in pressure in the entire house and several of your neighbours are affected, it may be the result of a problem with the City watermain. Call for assistance. Possible charges may apply if the problem is found to not be on City property. There may be low pressure due to the City flushing it's watermains. Notices are given to homeowners/business ahead of time to inform them when flushing is taking place.

If the problem is in your entire house and none of your neighbours are affected, it may be the result of a problem with your plumbing system or your pressure reducing valve. You can call a plumber at your expense to address low water pressure in your house or you can ask a City crew to come out and check the water supply coming into your property. Call for assistance. Possible charges may apply.

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Reports of no water

If only some area in your house is without water, the problem is from your internal plumbing system. Call a plumber at your own expense to investigate.

If your house and your neighbours are without water, with no City shut off notice, the problem may be from a broken watermain. Call for assistance. Possible charges may apply. There can be periods of no water when the City is conducting it's watermain flushing program. Notices are given to homeowners/business ahead of time to inform them when flushing is taking place.

If your entire house is without water and your neighbours are not affected, the problem may be from your side or from the City side. You may call a plumber at your own expense to check the pressure reducing valve to ensure it is not shut off or malfunctioned or you can call the City and ask for a crew to come out and investigate. Call for assistance. Possible charges may apply.

Reports of no water due to frozen water pipes

If you have no water and believe it is because your water pipes are frozen, please call a private plumber for help. It is highly likely that the frozen water pipes are located inside your house or building, which is your private property, not City-owned pipes. The City is not authorized to perform work or repairs to private property, so we will not be able resolve this issue for you.

Request for City Crew to attend - Charges

At your request, the City can send a crew to investigate. If the problem is found to be on your side of the property, the following charges will apply:

The charge is a $50 flat fee during regular business hours. Regular business hour appointments are scheduled to occur between 9:00am and 5:00pm seven days a week (excluding statutory holidays). Emergency callouts between the hours of 7:00am and 6:30pm seven days a week are also a $50 flat fee (excluding statutory holidays). The $200 flat fee applies to emergency callouts between 6:30pm and 7:00am seven days a week and all statutory holiday callouts.

The property owner or someone with signing authority is required to approve the crew’s attendance and accept the possibility of charges. Please call to arrange a crew to come out.

NOTE: City crews are not allowed to work on private property.

Water Pressure Calculation for Commercial Buildings

For water flow and pressure information for commercial buildings, call Francis Ang at 604.873.7380.

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