A main break may cause low pressure in the water distribution system. What could this lead to?

A main break in a water distribution system can create a significant drop in pressure, which poses a risk for contamination through backsiphonage. Backsiphonage occurs when there is a negative pressure in the system, causing water from external sources—such as soil, polluted water, or even groundwater—to be drawn into the water lines. When pressure decreases, it can allow contaminants to enter the system at points where the system is not adequately protected.

This risk is particularly concerning in urban areas where cross-connections might exist between potable and non-potable systems. Common sources of contamination include irrigation systems, wastewater, and other potentially harmful water supplies that could be unintentionally drawn into the drinking water system if proper backflow prevention measures are not in place.

While water shortages and temperature increases could be possible outcomes of various issues in a water system, they are not directly a result of a main break as often as the risk of contamination through backsiphonage is. Improved flow rates would not occur as a result of low pressure; in fact, flow rates would typically decrease under such circumstances. Therefore, the link between a main break and the potential for backsiphonage contamination is a critical reason to recognize the seriousness of maintaining pressure in the water distribution