The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

How To Design And Install Plumbing

Curb Stop. Fig. 196 represents a curb stop which generally is installed on the water service between the curb and the sidewalk line.

It is accessible through a cast-iron stop box that is brought up to grade and equipped with a removable iron cover, as shown in Fig. 197. It has three purposes. First, it serves as a control stop for that portion of the service between the curb and the building; second, it serves as a shut-off for the building in the event that the basement becomes flooded; third, it serves as a control valve in case the building is not used in the winter time. The curb stop in this case can be closed and the water drained with safety.

The Meter Stop. The meter stop, Fig. 198, is placed on the water service on the street side of the house meter. It serves as a controlling stop for the building installation. Constant turning of the meter stop ruins it in a very short time. It is good practice and a law in some cities that the meter be equipped with a gate valve on the house side of the meter.

Care should be taken to protect the service where it passes through concrete floors or walls. This may be done with a metal sleeve or by wrapping the service with a material that offers adequate protection.

The Water Meter. The water meter, Fig. 199, is a device adopted by city authorities to measure in cubic feet or gallons the amount of water that passes through the water service. The meter is a very delicate instrument and should never be roughly treated by the plumber.

The meter is generally read once every three months and the owner of the building is charged for the water consumption registered. Usually it is the property of the city and must never be removed unless permission is granted.