New homes connect to water supply is leaving me with plumbing problems (drain, sinks)

[cstleddy]

My neighborhood was built out about 12+ years ago with the exception of two lots just one house away from me. Recently they got their water connected and suddenly my faucets are leaking and my toilets are running.

I've been chasing around the problem with the faucets by taking them apart and cleaning the aerators which were full of debris that looked like coffee grounds and white vaseline. YUCK!! I've had to clean the aerator on the kitchen faucet once a day for three days to get the debris out, I had to purchase a new cartridge. It's still not working and the flow/pressure in that faucet is greatly diminished. The manufacturer is sending me a replacement faucet (thank goodness for the lifetime warranty). I had to hire a plumber to fix the water supply valves in kitchen as they failed so I couldn't shut off my kitchen water to fix the faucet. We've been changing a bucket under the sink because of the leak.

I still have to get new aerators for bathroom sinks, etc. and possibly hire a plumber.

I also had to have my sprinkler co come out and replace valves because of debris that kept them stuck open. they explained it was water coming from the meter to the irrigation system.

My question is, do I have any recourse with my city since they are responsible for the water supplied to me? Does it make any sense to complain?

[North Beach Person]

You could complain but they probably can't do much. It wouldn't hurt though. It sounds like when the lateral connection to the main for the new houses was made a bunch of gunk was knocked loose and is coming into your system. Are any other houses having the same problem? Flushing the hydrants might take care of it in the main, then you'd just have to continue purging your house system. We have a similar problem in one part of our Town system and have to drain the main occasionally to take care of it. This has been going on since the Town's system was put in in the early 90s.