If there were a major blackout, would water continue to flow from the tap?

Question

If there were a major blackout, would water continue to flow from the tap?

Answer 1

It completely depends on where you live.  Blackout at either of our farms means that we INSTANTLY have zero water.  That's because we are on our own well.

If you are on city water, some of those systems are designed very, very well.  Obviously if you live in an apartment, or on upper floors, eventually the pressure is going to end, and no more water on upper floors.

Even if you happen to live in one of the supper well designed gravity flow places, there's a problem you have to worry about, which nobody has yet touched on.  

If you are on city water, and the city water is treated (almost all of it is) you have a max of 3-7 days before the water becomes an issue, even if it is still flowing from the taps.

All city water systems run on a "just in time" delivery schedule for their chemicals used to treat the water.  There is not one single city in the U.S.A. which treats it's water, and has more than a 7 day supply of the chemicals on hand.  Many only have a three day supply.

So even if the water is flowing, in 3-7 days, you might be needing to boil that water (for ten minutes or more at a full boil).  If the power is out and you are unable to use an alternative fuel source, you could be in pretty serrious trouble in a very few days.  

There are other ways to sterilize water that do not involve using fuel....many of those ways taste horrid.  They involve putting bleach, or iodine in your water...ugh.

So, if you are really concerned about it, store extra water, and have alternative ways to sterilize water.  Also don't forget to STOP and THINK.  Is a really major storm rolling in?  Or is some whacko terrorist thing happening?  IMMEDIATELY fill your bathtub, and all of your large pots/containers with water.  Close bathroom doors, to prevent tragic things from happening with small children and pets.

If you live in your own home (and it is legal to do in your area) concider trapping the rainwater from your own roof.  Just have barrels at the end of your downspouts.  Make sure the barrels have strong, fine mesh screens on them.  That will keep leaves, birds, and currious cats out of the water, and keep it much cleaner.  

Your roof should not ever have been treated chemically to get rid of moss, nor should you use water from a roof that constantly has birds pooping on it.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 2

For a short period of time perhaps then it would stop, also in a major blackout low lying areas would begin to experience sewer lines backing up and over flowing.

Answer 3

For a short while it would still run but if the duration of the black out was long term then the water would stop eventually.  Water needs to be pumped to our taps and this needs electricity.  But some water that has already been moved to the water tower in the area will still have potential energy which can keep water running in the taps for a short while.

Answer 4

depends on where you live..

if you live in flat level land the water is pumped to the top of large storage tanks that maintain pressure on the lines.. so no problem till the tank gets low.. then the city would shut off the outlet valve.. preserving enough for fire fighting..

if you live in hilly areas.. then this method of pressurizing water does NOT work well as hills above the tank wouldn't get any water... those area use pumps to maintain water pressure... so your water would only go for a  VERY short time.

Answer 5

Most of the water flow to your house is from gravity.  It is pumped into elevated water tanks.  A lot of municipalities would have emergency generators to power the pumps in a blackout.