Subject: Neville Low Water Pressure Update
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 16:52
From: Housing <univhous@andrew.cmu.edu>
To: Neville Residents
Dear Neville Residents:
Here's the latest update as to the status of your building water pressure.
I have been working with our contract plumber as well as the Pittsburgh
Water & Sewage Authority to come up with discovery and solution.
Unfortunately at this time we have not isolated the problem. We have
however been able to determine, with relative certainty, that the problem
is not within the building (i.e. there are no leaks).
Here are a few of the steps that have thus far been taken: our plumbers
have done pressure test on both lines/meters into the building with each
indicating only 28-30 lbs test. The PW&SA did there own test in the
building a few days later with an even less impressive result of less than
15 lbs. The actual pressure should be somewhere between 50 to 55 lbs. We
are without a doubt, as all of you can attest, a bit off.
During our inspection of the buildings interior lines we discovered an
inoperative ball valve. Even though it was stuck in a partially open
position, it in itself was not the pressure loss problem. It however has
been replaced.
The PW&SA have agreed to do further test on their line into the building
back to the curb box (the shut off valve that feeds the house) and the
hydrant (the main for the entire street). They have already completed a
flush of the hydrant with no real problem indication.
You may have noticed PW&SA trucks and workers outside the building in the
past few days. Their presence has been in part to investigate our situation
but mostly because of a similar problem at the commercial building next
door on the corner. They well, as of tomorrow, extend their work of digging
up the street to include the investigation of the lines in front of your
building. It is highly possible that you will be experiencing intermittent
shut offs during this period. They've asked that we be patient as they work
to identify and fix this problem, which may, by the way, involve some late
evening work.
I will continue to work diligently with all party's involved to what I hope
to be a direct resolution over the next few days. I will also continue to
give regular updates as events change.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns
regarding this matter, and thank you as always for your patience and
cooperation.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Brooks
Housing Services Facility Coordinator
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