Measuring water pressure

[Richard Moore]

Originally posted by AHI

If it is fed exclusively by gravity, then wouldn't the available pressure be subject to the homes elevation in relation to the resivoir?

For example, the further down hill, the higher the pressure.

Yep...roughly 15 PSI for every 34 feet. Kind of funny in that you'd think a home right next to a water tower at the top of the hill would have good pressure but probably wouldn't (depending on the height of the tower).

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by AHI

If it is fed exclusively by gravity, then wouldn't the available pressure be subject to the homes elevation in relation to the resivoir?

For example, the further down hill, the higher the pressure.

Yes. That's precisely correct.

For instance, I live in the country in a hilly area and I belong to a water co-op. The reservoir that serves my street is only slighly

higher than my house. As a result, I only get about 30 psi to my house. Down at the bottom of my driveway, where my meter is, the pressure is 75 psi. (My house is 100' above the street.) My neighbor, down the road, has 120 psi at his house.

Elevation is everything with gravity-fed systems.

- Jim Katen, Oregon