Municipal water systems power communities—supplying homes, businesses, and fire hydrants around the clock. But when a water main needs repairs or upgrades, downtime can spark chaos: disrupted lives, safety risks, and ballooning costs. Shutting off the entire system isn’t always viable. That’s where line stopping saves the day, a proven solution Watertap Inc. has mastered over 25 years to keep water flowing while crews work.
Unlike traditional full shutdowns, line stopping isolates specific pipe sections without cutting off service everywhere. Here’s why it’s a municipal game-changer—and how Watertap delivers it fast.
The Hidden Cost of Water System Downtime
Downtime hits municipalities hard. Utah State University reports 240,000 water main breaks yearly, costing an estimated $2.6 billion in repairs and lost water.
Each shutdown triggers a cascade:
- Residents: No water for hours—cooking, sanitation, emergencies stop.
- Safety: Fire hydrants go dry, risking lives.
- Economy: An EPA estimate pegs $50,000–$100,000 daily losses in mid-sized cities.
- Regulations: Fines loom if outages breach compliance.
With roughly 40% of U.S. mains over 50 years old (ASCE), traditional repairs aren’t sustainable. Line stopping slashes that downtime to nearly zero.
Why Line Stopping Beats Shutdowns
Curious about the process? See our Complete Guide to Line Stopping. What sets line stopping apart is keeping water flowing where it’s needed most. Picture a 12-inch leak threatening a neighborhood: Watertap Inc. isolates that section in hours, not days, while taps stay on upstream and downstream—no boil notices, no angry calls. In Denton, Texas, we fixed a 16-inch main for over 20,000 residents without a single outage, wrapping repairs fast enough to keep the city humming—read more about our Texas line stopping project in Denton here.
Beyond speed, line stopping saves money. Avoiding full shutdowns cuts out overtime and emergency costs that pile up when a system’s drained. It’s a safer bet too—stable pressure reduces contamination risks tied to depressurization. With roughly $55 billion in water funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through 2026, cities can upgrade smart, and line stopping ensures it happens without halting service.
Line Stopping vs. Traditional Repairs
The old way can’t compete:
- Time Offline: Traditional: 4–24+ hours. Line Stopping: 0–2 hours for isolation.
- Cost: Full shutdowns rack up labor and restoration bills. Line stopping targets the problem area.
- Disruption: Both need digging, but line stopping avoids system-wide impacts.
- Risk: Draining invites contamination; line stopping keeps flow steady.
For cash-strapped councils, it’s a lifeline—especially on aging pipes.
When Line Stopping Saves the Day
It’s not just emergencies—line stopping shines for:
- Valve swaps without full outages.
- Leak fixes in busy zones.
- New tie-ins for growth, often with **live tapping**.
- PCCP upgrades with adapters.
It’s not just emergencies—like: Valve swaps without full outages. Leak fixes in busy zones. New tie-ins for growth, often with live tapping. PCCP upgrades with adapters.
Watertap: Your Partner in Water Resilience
Watertap Inc. is your partner in water resilience, delivering line stopping solutions that ensure uninterrupted service for your municipal water systems. With our proven approach, we’re here to keep your community’s water flowing reliably—call contact us for expert, 24/7 support across the nation.
Contact Us Today For A Free Consultation