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Protect your water system from main breaks

Surge Suppression

After over 40 years of research, development and improvements and tracking of surge suppressors–also known as surge arrestors, snubbers or attenuators–are now available for public water systems to help eliminate costly and wasteful main breaks.

Our infrastructure needs surge suppression.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) infrastructure report card, U.S. water systems are rated C- (deplorable), on a scale where F means “fail”.

Many of the one million miles of water pipes in the U.S. were installed in the early to mid-20th century with an expected lifespan of 75 to 100 years
An average of 240,000 main breaks occur within those pipes each year resulting in 6 billion gallons of water lost each day
The American Water Works Association has estimated it will cost $1 trillion to maintain and expand service to meet demands over the next 25 years
When you solve the C- rating with surge suppression, you will save with less water main breaks, repairs and improved water accountability

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How surge suppression works.

Many in the water supply industry say main breaks are caused by corrosion, ground shifting or cold temperatures. And they’re not all wrong. But it’s mostly water hammer within the system that’s most destructive to pipes that have been weakened by these or other conditions. Surge suppression helps eliminate main breaks by calming destructive pressure spikes.

What is water hammer?

When a valve is closed, fast-flowing pressurized water comes to a sudden stop and then quickly surges forward again. Cavitation pulls the water apart, creating a vacuum. When the water snaps back together, the result is water hammer. With indoor plumbing, you can hear the result and understand how water hammer got its name.

Surge suppressors cushion the water hammer so water can flow more freely and minimize the stress on pipes.

Note: Gen 4 has been replaced with improved models made in the U.S.

Learn about water hammer and its impact on your water system.

Why Suppression Surge Suppressors Contact Us

WHAT DO ENGINEERS SAY?

To develop his surge suppressors, Heil consulted with Fauske & Associates, a process safety leader specializing in high-pressure heat and liquid. Mechanical Engineer & Sr Vice President Robert E. Henry wrote:

…there is sound technical basis for why (surge suppressors) virtually eliminate the strong fluid transients that can damage municipal water distribution systems… (and) can greatly extend the life of current distribution systems and correspondingly reduce the maintenance cost.

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Surge suppression tested and proven in the field.

Below are the utilities that have used Heil₂O surge suppression devices for 15 years or more and are experiencing fewer main breaks as they extend the life of their systems.