ᐅ Pressure loss in the potable water supply line

Hello,

We have had a leak in the potable water pipe outside the house for several weeks.
The leak was not visible to the naked eye, and the municipality connected a pressure gauge to the pipe and closed the valve.
The pressure dropped from 8 bar to almost 0 bar within 1 minute.

I should mention that our water pipe runs for 100 meters (330 feet) across the neighbor’s property before entering our house.

Leak detection using test gas found that the damage is located at the ground slab between the garage and the house wall.

Today, the last 5–6 meters (16–20 feet) were excavated and a new water pipe was installed.

The municipality tested the pressure again, and it slowly dropped from 8 bar to 3 bar, but since 12 pm it has not decreased further and remains stable at 3 bar.

The municipality is confident there is a second break.
I wonder why the pressure remains at 3 bar over the 100-meter (330-foot) pipe if there is a leak.

Is there something I am not considering? If there was a leak, shouldn’t the pressure drop back down to 0 bar?

Any ideas would be appreciated. We are relying on the emergency water supply, which is really frustrating.

Best regards

Kadir

If the leak can withstand a pressure of 3 bar (43.5 psi), the pressure would remain at that level and not drop completely to zero. Physics and all that.