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What Causes Treated Water to Blast Out of the Faucet?

Water blasting out of a home's faucet does not happen because of "treated" water. Multiple causes exist and are easily fixed. East Bay MUD, the water purveyor for the East Bay region of San Francisco, maintains water pressure between 30 to 130 pounds per square inch (PSI), depending on a customer's elevation in the distribution zone. Most public water distribution systems consist of storage tanks, distribution pumps, distribution zones and receive regularly scheduled maintenance to ensure pressure consistency and functionality.

  1. Water Pressure

    • "Blasting" water is caused by several things. One such cause includes water pressure set too high for the home or business. Water pressure becomes the responsibility of the homeowner or landlord after the service junction, where it is easily adjusted. Set the adjustment to 60 PSIs according to standard recommendations. A water-reducing valve installed at the service connection allows for this adjustment. Adjust the valve by turning it counterclockwise to reduce pressure and clockwise to increase it.

    Water Hammer

    • A common occurrence with distributions systems is an event called "water hammer." A water hammer is a pressure surge that abruptly cuts off, sending a hydraulic shock wave back through the system, which occurs when a broken pipe or open hydrant surges water at high velocity and then is suddenly forced in a different direction when it is shut off. The same thing happens in a home when a faucet is shut off quickly, on a much smaller scale. Sounds this makes include clanging, banging or knocking. Water can spurt, spit and blast out of the faucet at times like these if in use. Newer homes installed with water arrestors won't experience this phenomenon unless the arrestors become waterlogged, but older homes without arrestors will.

    Regular Maintenance

    • Part of the regular maintenance of a water distribution system includes occasionally blowing out water through water hydrants or other locations. Periodic maintenance involves closing and opening valves all along the distribution system to ensure valves stay operable, which also works to keep water quality high and cleans the pipes at the same time. Water hammer can result in these scenarios, sending surges through the system. Broken pipes add air into a system, which needs blowing out after repairs are complete. This causes sputtering, spitting and blasting water at these times.

    Distribution System

    • A public distribution system involves a complicated matrix of water lines, distribution pumps, storage tanks and a water management plan that delineates distribution zones. As equipment ages, continual improvements and upgrades occur on these systems. Because of land topography, pressure pumps are strategically located to ensure equal system pressure and effective water delivery. At the heart of each distribution zone, a large water storage tank often houses a million or more gallons of water in large residential areas. East Bay MUD says, "Water flow is primarily determined by the size of a customer's service connection and the water pressure at that connection."

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