This paper introduces an eigenvalue method of transforming the hyperbolic partial differential equations of a particular unsteady friction water hammer model into characteristic form. This method is based on the solution of the corresponding one-dimensional Riemann problem that transforms hyperbolic quasi-linear equations into ordinary differential equations along the characteristic directions, which in this case arises as the eigenvalues of the system. A mathematical justification and generalization of the eigenvalues method is provided and this approach is compared to the traditional characteristic method.