Hydrostatic pressure (along with gravity) is what pushes water from the municipal tower, out through the service line, and into your home. That’s one of the leading actors in the city’s water distribution system. If you have a basement, the force from hydrostatic pressure may push water through the wall (the main reason we waterproof basement walls). Before we pour a monolithic slab, we perform a hydrostatic pressure test to ensure the pipes aren’t leaking.
Technically speaking, hydrostatic pressure applies to fluids that are not moving or in a state of equilibrium. The density of the liquid influences the pressure. The hydrostatic pressure (P) can be calculated using the following formula: P = ρ * g * h where: h is the depth or height of the fluid column. ρ (rho) is the density of the fluid. g is the acceleration due to gravity. Engineering Toolbox.
