Hydra-Stop

Hydra-Stop, LLC, founded in 1981, is a manufacturer of insertion valves and line stop fittings for water and wastewater systems. The company, headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, provides solutions that allow for the maintenance and repair of potable, waste, and industrial water systems without requiring a complete shutdown of service.

The company's core products include the Insta-Valve 250 and other insertion valves, which are designed to be installed on pressurized pipes. This technology allows municipalities, private water utilities, and contractors to isolate specific sections of a water main for repair or maintenance, thereby reducing costs, mitigating risks, and preventing service interruptions to critical facilities like hospitals. The installation process involves cutting a single hole into the pipe under full line pressure, which avoids the need to sever the pipe and maintains its structural integrity.

The business primarily serves municipalities, engineers, and contractors. By providing targeted control within a water distribution network, Hydra-Stop addresses the common issue of aging and inoperable valves, which can affect 20-50% of valves in some systems. In July 2016, Hydra-Stop was acquired by the private equity firm Madison Industries. More recently, in August 2025, Pentair plc entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Hydra-Stop from Madison Industries for approximately $290 million. This acquisition is expected to integrate Hydra-Stop into Pentair's Flow business segment.

Keywords: insertion valves, line stopping, water control solutions, pipe maintenance, water infrastructure, municipal water, wastewater systems, potable water, industrial water systems, valve insertion, line stop fittings, Insta-Valve, water main repair, utility service provider, resilient seated gate valve, water conservation, pipeline maintenance, system shutdown avoidance, emergency water repair, water distribution management