# Street water (街道水 · 虚水)

> Street water is the practice in urban water methods of treating streets and lanes as waterways, because flows of people and vehicles carry energy the way water does. The larger and busier the road, the stronger its street water.

- Vietnamese: Phố thủy
- English: Street water
- Chinese: 街道水（虚水）
- Chinese characters: 街道水 · 虚水
- Also called: Phố thủy · Virtual water · Xu Shui

## Explanation

Chinese texts call roads "virtual water" to distinguish them from real rivers and lakes. A road that curves around a house is usually considered good; one that runs straight at the door is considered a clash.

Street water is the main basis for the small scale in cities, where most homes cannot see a river or lake.

## How Home Check uses it

Home Check uses street water to locate the small-scale Water Mouth around the site, with a confidence level. — [Compass & site reading](https://myhomecheck.ai/compass)

## Related terms

- [Small scale](https://myhomecheck.ai/learn/glossary/small-scale): The small scale is the range right around the house: the street, lane, yard and drains next to the site.
- [Water Mouth](https://myhomecheck.ai/learn/glossary/water-mouth): The Water Mouth is where water leaves a site or the bright hall in front of a house, measured as a degree from the centre of the home.
- [Direct wind](https://myhomecheck.ai/learn/glossary/direct-wind): Direct wind is a strong current of air that blows straight at the main door or rushes right through a house.

## Questions

### Is a road pointing straight at the house poor street water?

It is usually considered a clash of energy, especially when aimed at the main door. How strong depends on the road's width and distance.

### Can street water replace real water?

It complements rather than replaces. When a real river or lake is near, real water comes first; street water covers the range right by the house.

---  
Original page: https://myhomecheck.ai/learn/glossary/street-water  
Other languages: [Tiếng Việt](https://myhomecheck.ai/vi/tri-thuc/thuat-ngu/pho-thuy/index.md) · [中文](https://myhomecheck.ai/zh/learn/glossary/street-water/index.md)  
Updated: 2026-10-21