New farm... Finding livestock water lines across 126ac?

[plowhog]

I give the witch sticks 50/50. I see people who claim to be experts at it

I was a 100% skeptic disbeliever.

My father had his property witched, and they found a good spot for a well. I visited sometime thereafter and he asked me if I wanted to try it. 100% skeptical, I said sure.

It worked. I can't explain it, but on the exact spot where someone else decided for a well the rods moved 90 degrees. He didn't tell me where on the property it was, and just suggested I walk around. So I walked around for a while, nothing, nothing, then bingo.

I cannot explain it. And I still want to think it is a bunch of baloney .... except ...

 

[Fixastuff]

Yep, works it sometimes.

 

[Fixastuff]

Yep, works it sometimes.

What I'm trying to say is try it 100 times at a bunch of different locations and in my experience it's about 50% right. I put it 40,000ft pf conduit in a city that used that method/along with plans for locating. I cut many water lines with the plow that summer and wasn't billed for a single one because of improper marks.

I also see alot of electronic locator paint markers that are way off so maybe its not the sticks but the user.

 

[Dadnatron]

These are the known waterer locations. There are so many overgrown fencelines, I suspect there are a couple more that I've yet to find. I haven't really had full access to the farm in the beans areas as I'm still in the process of purchase and the current farmer has rights to crops.

I'm trying to decide a plan of action. Certainly digging up lines is an option. I believe, pretty strongly, these are connected to 'city water'. If I didn't have to pull lines again, at least as far as many of these are located, it'd be pretty nice for me and save me a lot of work. If I can connect to them and pull further, it'd be great. And I'd really like to learn this property, which part of the main structure is these lines.

 

[JethroB]

In some cases lines can be spotted by the change in grass color or growth, particularly when it’s very dry.

 

[Barry 1]

Go ask a neighbor who their water company is,then go ask the water company where their meter is located on your property.

 

[WinterDeere]

Go ask a neighbor who their water company is,then go ask the water company where their meter is located on your property.

Not always useful, if an older place. We were lucky enough to have a house where some of the water lines were on the city side of the meter, meaning they were not metered. I’m not sure what favors or kickbacks were involved in getting that arrangement, but it was all done in lead pipe, to give you an idea of the vintage.

Besides, even with meter, supply would likely go into house, before exiting again toward waterers.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I found out that I can do the "withching" with the L shaped metal rods. I have found several things in my yard I never knew existed, including a gas line and an underground telephone line, and lateral lines for my neighbor. I never really know what I'm finding; for instance it took me a while to realize the overhead lines reacted also.

Had an internet friend tell me it was a talent that only occurred in certain individuals, those with Jewish and American Indian heritage. I have been told I have both.

In any case, it's fun, and cheap.

 

[Dadnatron]

I found out that I can do the "withching" with the L shaped metal rods. I have found several things in my yard I never knew existed, including a gas line and an underground telephone line, and lateral lines for my neighbor. I never really know what I'm finding; for instance it took me a while to realize the overhead lines reacted also.

Had an internet friend tell me it was a talent that only occurred in certain individuals, those with Jewish and American Indian heritage. I have been told I have both.

In any case, it's fun, and cheap.

My Grandpa swore by witching with wires. I don't know his 'hit rate' as I think only one well was ever dug. But there was water there.

 

[oosik]

Is there a monthly or quarterly water bill. That would be one good starting point.