Water supply line question

[Bugsinrugs]

I am lucky that my property is bordered by a county road that has a city treated water line. With the drought and semi unreliable electricity ( PG&E) we decided to buy into the city water supply. $22,000 just to set a meter. Now it’s up to me to get the water to the house. Roughly 700 feet. I am confused as to which pipe I should use. I’ve had lots of recommendations. From schedule 40, schedule 80, polyethylene to pex. I do have numerous turns and an incline to deal with. I have a guy that will trench it and I will help install the pipe ( with a locator wire) and then bury it. Hopefully I can get some good advice here. Thanks!

[Por_sha911]

Does the ground freeze? Are you in an earthquake zone? Different factors change what is needed. If you have an installer you trust, ask them. They will be able to suggest what is best for that distance and with multiple turns.

[Bugsinrugs]

Earthquake yes. Code has water lines 18 “ deep .I have talked to a few plumbers and also the guys putting in the meter. All different . That’s why I’m confused. I may just fork over the $$ and do schedule 80 PVC . Seems to have the best longevity.

[Arizona_928]

Trenchers can be rented at home depot. 700 ft isn't too bad especially on a treacher that is a stand on and ride.

Steel and copper should be an option too but more expensive raw material. I would do the schedule 80 and plastic pipe is very very diy.

Also famous words from a plumber.... Only fools pay a plumber to dig a hole.

[plumb4u2]

So every area of our country uses different materials, I have heard that CA usually uses PVC and in my area that is a no go
We only use PE (polyethylene) around here, I would use PE in my house and especially for the fact of less joints it comes in large rolls
PVC you would have a joint every 20’ that could potentially fail

[Bugsinrugs]

Lots of rocks and roots to deal with. How do you protect the poly pipe? I read that it’s pretty soft.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Lots of rocks and roots to deal with. How do you protect the poly pipe? I read that it’s pretty soft.

Just retrench and replace. Nothing is forever.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

So every area of our country uses different materials, I have heard that CA usually uses PVC and in my area that is a no go
We only use PE (polyethylene) around here, I would use PE in my house and especially for the fact of less joints it comes in large rolls
PVC you would have a joint every 20’ that could potentially fail

I've seen some guys run rolled copper as the same principle as pe. Just unroll and solder in fittings.

Those joints don't fail randomly. Pvc will crack first. Pressure test the line before back fill, but pvc is stupid easy to get a good seal on the joint. Keep the ends dry and clean from debris when you glue them.

[A930Rocket]

We use PVC on our homes, but the runs are 30-40-50’. From a leak point of view, I’d want as few joints as possible.

[flatbutt]

$22K just to set the meter!? Faaack!

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

$22K just to set the meter!? Faaack!

Payable over 10 years no interest. But yes…faaack!!

[Arizona_928]

What is the water table at?

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

What is the water table at?

Sorry, I don’t understand. My well is 120 feet deep if that means anything.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Lots of rocks and roots to deal with. How do you protect the poly pipe? I read that it’s pretty soft.

We bed pipe in sand. Installed hundreds of well and public water services over the years, never a problem/bad install.

[Baz]

What advice were you given by the local contractors about pipe material, size, and depth?

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Baz

What advice were you given by the local contractors about pipe material, size, and depth?

All different. One said 11/4 inch pipe another said 3/4 would work and another said 1 inch. One said poly pipe another said pvc and another said pex. All agreed the depth at 18”. That’s why I’m confused.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

All different. One said 11/4 inch pipe another said 3/4 would work and another said 1 inch. One said poly pipe another said pvc and another said pex. All agreed the depth at 18”. That’s why I’m confused.

If you are going 700' you'd better use something larger than 3/4". I'd go with 1" schedule 40.

Not sure how it is where you are but here we buy it in 20' sections, one end having a bell on it, so you don't need couplings when adjoining two sections. 700' would require (5x7) = 35 sections. They bundle either 10 (=200') or 20 (=400') sections together at the supply house where I buy, so that's either 4 bundles or 2. Nothing wrong with having an extra 100' on hand, just in case.

PVC pipe is fairly inexpensive and schedule 40 should hold up just fine for you. Not sure about poly - we don't use that here, but that might also work for you. I don't see Pex as a practical candidate.

If you haven't already done so, maybe a call to the utility company supplying your water would help give you more input.

Typically a local contractor would know, but getting so many different answers as you did, is very odd, to me.

[smadsen]

Our house was built in 1959 with a 100+- foot run of 3/4" copper from the meter (at the street) to the house. Been here 46+ years, still working like the day it was new.

[LWJ]

Poly. Bed in sand. Do the flow calcs for the diameter. If you do poly, less resistance and potentially less diameter.

As someone said, trench yourself.

If you are DIYing, run two lengths and have a backup. Still less cost.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by LWJ

If you are DIYing, run two lengths and have a backup. Still less cost.

Oh that’s clever!