Digging trench for PVC water line, advice on potential obstacles

[rbstern]

I'm going to be tapping into my house's cold water line, coming out through a foundation wall, and then making my way to our chicken and duck pen, which is about 75' away. About 30' to one side of where I will trench are a buried 240v line, telephone, and a copper propane feed. I have a good handle on where those are.

What I don't have a handle on: My 1" well line and well power line are somewhere in the area, but I don't know exactly where (house was built 20 years before I bought it, no diagram available). I can get a little insight from the inside of the basement, because I know where the well lines come into the house, but what they are doing outside the foundation, I have no idea. In places where I know I'm clear, I'll use my tractor mounted backhoe. But for places where I think the water line might be, I'm thinking I should dig by hand. I also have a handheld metal detector, was planning to scout with it. It won't penetrate deep enough to find a properly deep well power cable, but as I dig, I figure I can stick it in the trench before digging deeper.

I'm in GA: Our frostline is almost non-existent, so I'm only going down a foot, will be using either 1/2 or 3/4" PVC, terminated at a freeze-proof spigot inside the fence of the animal pen.

Any tips or tricks appreciated.

 

[plowhog]

I recently used a pipe locator looking for some buried pipes. Even without using the signal generator, the underground (live) buried power lines lit it up very strong. Those should be easy to find.

Is your well line PVC? PVC is so easy to repair I've mostly resigned myself to digging and breaking pvc lines, then fixing them as I go.

 

[bmaverick]

I've done this twice. Per code, utilities are suppose to be 18-iches to 24-inches. That applies only if things are to code.

It would be wise to call the 811 to schedule a ground level for flagging. This would give you a better grasp on it all.

Now, with a rototiller, set the depth to till up to 1-foot deep. This would get you 'near' the 18-inch code depth. Next borrow or find a friend with a metal detector. Now you have a great idea where things run.

The Yanmar or the LS can pull up the tilled soil with a straight blade at a steep angle or keeping it straight and pulling perpendicular the soil out of the tilled trench.

If in doubt, hand shovel key areas or use a post hole digger carefully to certain depths.

 

[grsthegreat]

there are companies that will locate underground wires and water lines. ive used them before when my own underground locator would not give me good results. not too expensive. way cheaper than repairing everything. 811 will generally only locate stuff on utility side of the service, such as between transformer and meter. they wont locate homeowners side.

 

[cwbyeng1300]

Use witching rods along the trench path. It will get you close believe it or not.

Two welding rods bend 90 degrees in L shape. Hold short leg loosley in each hand pointing in direction you are walking. When you cross the power line/water line they will turn towards each other. The line will be underfoot.

 

[jaxs]

I've done this twice. Per code, utilities are suppose to be 18-iches to 24-inches. That applies only if things are to code.

It would be wise to call the 811 to schedule a ground level for flagging. This would give you a better grasp on it all.

Now, with a rototiller, set the depth to till up to 1-foot deep. This would get you 'near' the 18-inch code depth. Next borrow or find a friend with a metal detector. Now you have a great idea where things run.

The Yanmar or the LS can pull up the tilled soil with a straight blade at a steep angle or keeping it straight and pulling perpendicular the soil out of the tilled trench.

If in doubt, hand shovel key areas or use a post hole digger carefully to certain depths.

Tell me more. Calling 811 to have underground public utilities flagged I know about. "A ground level for flagging" and locating privatly installed things I'm not up to date on.

 

[bmaverick]

Tell me more. Calling 811 to have underground public utilities flagged I know about. "A ground level for flagging" and locating privatly installed things I'm not up to date on.

Yes, 911 for public utils to the home. For private owner ran lines, hand dig carefully and metal detector as I had mentioned.

 

[Code54]

"Yes, 911 for public utils to the home. For private owner ran lines, hand dig carefully and metal detector as I had mentioned."

Little typo - 811 for utilities, 911 and other people in uniforms will arrive

 

[bcp]

"Yes, 911 for public utils to the home. For private owner ran lines, hand dig carefully and metal detector as I had mentioned."

Little typo - 811 for utilities, 911 and other people in uniforms will arrive

You may have to use 911 if you don't use 811.

Bruce

 

[plowhog]

It would be wise to call the 811 to schedule a ground level for flagging. This would give you a better grasp on it all.

Many people don't know that companies can "subscribe" or "not subscribe" to the 811 program. If they have underground lines but don't subscribe, those lines won't be marked. And usually any homeowner or contractor installed lines won't get flagged either.

Is your well line PVC or galvanized? I said earlier I commonly trench thru PVC lines then repair them, but old galvanized lines can be a bear to repair. I'd do everything possible to not damage a galvanized underground water line.