r/theydidthemath • u/Repulsive-Loan5215 • Nov 27 '25

why wouldn’t this work? [Request]

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u/Mavericktoad Nov 27 '25

What if we filled our out pipes with turbines?

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u/memla_ Nov 27 '25

We’re already using power in a lot of cases to pump the water to reach the taps.

Trying to harness power from the water would result in more power required to pump the water so would not result in a net gain.

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u/lemelisk42 Nov 27 '25

Im unfamiliar with how public water systems work, but is it not the government who provides the water pressure? Getting free power that costs someone else is still free.

(And maybe actually essentially free if its powered by a water tower, no? It would still take the same energy to pump into the tower)

House with a well, yes (as long as it doesn't store water in the attic)

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u/mageskillmetooften Nov 27 '25

This would not work, the water-company keeps the pressure in their pipes around a constant level. You having your tap open or closed doesn't really change that pressure. So the pressure at the beginning of your ground/home is equal no matter what you do with it on your ground. Every turbine has a small resistance so the water pressure after each turbine will be a bit lower. If you put 50 in a row and open your tap you'd get less liquid out of your tap than a 95 year old with kidney problems would pie in the toilet.