A wet tap connection refers to the connection made into a New York City water main (or any public water main) for a water service line installation. Usually such a connection is for one individual property. In New York City, before the advent of cast iron water main pipes, the city’s water mains were actually constructed out of wood. They have typically hollowed out tree trunks, frequently with the bark of the tree still left intact (as pictured below).
A Wet Tap Connection for water service lines
The tap connection, is sometimes also called a wet tap. It is the connection from a water service line to the NYC DEP owned water main usually located in the roadway. If your connection is undersized it will not permit proper water volume to enter your premises. That is true no matter how large your water service line is. This is even more of an issue in the old Jamaica Water territory since the NYC DEP took over ownership in the 1990’s. As a point of interest, a new tap costs around $700.00 in city fees. This is a small price to pay for ensuring you get the correct main water line job. Watch the tutorial video below to learn more about water service line connections.
Who installs tap connections for water service lines?
New tap connections are easily installed by NYC DEP field forces in around 20 minutes after a NYC licensed plumber has secured the proper permits. With the modern tools now in use only a minimal amount of water is lost on the process. When a hole for a new connection is drilled into a NYC water main, only about a 1/2 gallon of water is lost. A wet tap connection ranges in approved sizes from 3/4″ up to 2″. An 1/2″ water line connection pictured below is not legal for use, and should be replaced if found. If a size larger than a 2″ tap connection is required, then a ‘wet connection’ would be required. Wet connections are installed by a different process, as described below.
What is a driven tap connection?
Driven tap were installed when cast iron main water lines were installed, and prior to power tools being available. A new tap connection actually had to be driven into the city main by hand. That is why these old water service line connections are referred to as driven taps. Unfortunately these frequently undersized connections can become clogged. They also became inadequate as most modern buildings require a greater volume of water, due to an increased number of plumbing fixtures. More troubling, however, is the fact that because they were ‘driven in’, they also frequently blow out without warning.