Which valve is designed for connecting a new main to an existing pressurized main?

Which valve is designed for connecting a new main to an existing pressurized main?

• A. Tapping Valve
• B. Gate Valve
• C. Ball Valve
• D. Check Valve

Answer: (A)

When tying a new main into a live, pressurized water main, you need a valve designed to access an operating line without shutting it down. A tapping valve is built for hot tapping operations, allowing a branch to be connected to the existing main while it remains under pressure and providing a controlled path for the new line. That makes it the best fit for this task. In contrast, gate and ball valves are general shut-off devices used to start or stop flow and aren’t designed to create a new branch from a live line; they require depressurizing or additional equipment to make a connection. A check valve prevents backflow but doesn’t facilitate adding a new main at all. So the tapping valve is the appropriate choice for connecting a new main to an existing pressurized main.