What's with all the water pipe issues?

Both apartments I've lived in in Vegas for the past four years have experienced water problems. The water is constantly shut off. This also applies to any friends I've met in various housing complexes throughout the city. Many of them came to my apartment to shower, and I did the same. Now I live in a private condo, but the HOA here still can't keep the water on and blames it on aging pipes. It has literally been an issue for years. Google reviews would attest to this. These people do not tell anyone when water is turned off throughout the city. Right now, the water is turned off without warning at least twice a month where I live, and when they put it back on, the pipes rattle like crazy. Everyone on the first floor has been flooded at least once due to damaged pipes, which is why I always choose the top.

Thank You In Advance.

Vegas has some of the hardest water in the country, which can also be very corrosive and cause pipes to fail prematurely...

I am not sure what is happening, aging infrastructure in the United States is certainly real, and in an arid west, probably more pronounced. No city understands this though more than Jackson Mississippi however. Wow, just wow. Read up on that topic and it will make you run for the hills...

I think a better approach however is to not merely wonder why something as vital as water is occurring, but to recognize that providing something so critical for yourself, is a better plan. Rome was not built in a day, and neither was any Permies Plot, so it takes making an exit strategy, a solid plan, and then working the plan to do more for yourself.

With aging infrastructure, it is going to take money to fix, and the United States is broke. It is not going to get better, but actually worse as Jackson Mississippi found out.

While I don't know if apartment owners would be open to suggesting a reverse osmosis system and replacing aging pipes.

The reverse osmosis system solved our problem here for our usage.

Start agitating for something to be done generally, its seems everybody is waiting for somebody to start the process rolling!

Has anyone done any research into the legal responsibilities of the owners and HOA for multiple family buildings? There might be some help there, or at least at least some direction to take. In a single family dwelling it would fall on the homeowner to address the problem. In a building with shared plumbing, however, the issue is much more complex and there should be legal guidelines as to who is responsible for what.

Texas.gov said, ' You can submit a complaint online, or you can call their office at (512) 463-2642 or toll-free (Texas only) at (888) 452-4778. The City of San Antonio's Fair Housing/Housing Counseling Program provides mediation, counseling, and referrals to renters, landlords, and homeowners in San Antonio

So this seems like the place to start might be on the state level or it might be a county or city issue.

Nothing worse than having the water shut off in the middle of a shower when you're all soaped up!

If the shutoff is planned in advance, they have a responsibility to give notice to tenants. However in the case of an emergency water leak (which is quite common) they have to proceed without warning to prevent property damage, water loss, and even possible injury.

Mr. Spock said it best -

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one."

Steve said it best, best course of action is to store water and create redundancies so you're less reliant on their failing system. Infrastructure is failing all across the empire right now from railways and roads to waterline and electrical systems and will likely get worse for quite some time before it improves. Taking responsibility for your own needs will help turn this nuisance into a minor inconvenience so you can stay focused on your personal goals in life.

We often deal with frozen pipes in the winter that cause us to rely on stored water for a couple hours or days, no big deal for the most part.

Devon Olsen wrote:Steve said it best, best course of action is to store water and create redundancies so you're less reliant on their failing system. Infrastructure is failing all across the empire right now from railways and roads to waterline and electrical systems and will likely get worse for quite some time before it improves. Taking responsibility for your own needs will help turn this nuisance into a minor inconvenience so you can stay focused on your personal goals in life.

We often deal with frozen pipes in the winter that cause us to rely on stored water for a couple hours or days, no big deal for the most part.

Great advice.. redundancy. I am blessed to have artesian springs gushing pure water at high volume, as the (extensive and aged) water system here has developed a leak that I have been unable to locate. I discovered this when I realized that the pump to my elevated tank was kicking on way more than necessary this past winter. I shut of the breaker to the pump that is controlled by a float and relay to the tank, and only turn it on when necessary.. and fill and haul water for drinking, etc. it really brought to mind the issues of infrastructure fragility, and long term resilience. Parts are replaceable, as long as they are available.. but if they suddenly are not, then what?

Ted, what infrasructure are you talking about?
The one in your building or the street one?
The household one can surely be replaced with cost and time?