[fintstone]

Originally Posted by jyl

I was thinking about that.

So if normal minimum residential supply line water pressure is 50 psi, a check valve in each house's supply to shut off water if pressure falls to, say, 40 psi? And maybe a manual bypass, in case the valve malfunctions.

Alternatively, how about a valve that closes if exposed to the heat of a house fire. With a manual bypass.

With valve and bypass, and everything upstream, made of metal and designed to survive fire. You'd install these right where the supply line enters the house, typically in the basement. Would either work?

I guess someone will complain that they needed water for some emergency and the check valve shut off, but if the emergency was such that they couldn't get to the manual bypass . . .

Concept similar to the automatic shutoffs for natural gas systems. Which, come to think of it, I don't have.

Why not put it underground at the meter?