How to follow water pipe?

[ajmbonaire]

Can anyone tell me how to follow an underground water pipe? I found a faucet in the woods on 15 acres that has been idle for fifteen years or so. I dug down and started following the pipe but it became too difficult due to the dense undergrowth and trees that have grown up. I would like to determine where it terminates. I have seen no evidence of a well but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Any ideas? The pipe is PVC.

 

[JB4310]

They have pipe locators that use a small transmitter that you run thru the pipe on a snake/ electricians fish tape, then track it with a receiver. You should call around to rental places or commercial pipe suppliers to rent one.

Might be tricky for small diameter pipe, not sure what the smallest size you could do this with.

The only other option for plastic pipe I know of is ground penetrating sonar. I don't know if you could rent that equipment.

JB

 

[Whitnel]

No good way that I know of unless it has a tracer wire with it, which I doubt it has. Most water utilities have no idea where their PVC mains are located due to lack of a tracer wire being installed.

 

[bonefish101]

Pvc is deemed unlocatable until you get up to about 4" diameter, at that size you can detect the void within with gpr (ground penetrating radar).
If you can access the pipe and fish a metal line down through you can clamp on to the tape at one end and induce a signal to be picked up on the surface with a receiver. If you cant get a fish tape in you are pretty much out of luck. There is a fairly new tool called an rd500 (thumper) that creates water hammer down the line that can then be detected audibly. Not many people use thumpers and they can destroy old lines with too much hammer.
Best advice - call a local utility locator and get their take on it.
If you are in the dc/nova area I can help you with it, if not, good luck, you may need it!

 

[JB4310]

Pvc is deemed unlocatable until you get up to about 4" diameter, at that size you can detect the void within with gpr (ground penetrating radar).
If you can access the pipe and fish a metal line down through you can clamp on to the tape at one end and induce a signal to be picked up on the surface with a receiver. If you cant get a fish tape in you are pretty much out of luck. There is a fairly new tool called an rd500 (thumper) that creates water hammer down the line that can then be detected audibly. Not many people use thumpers and they can destroy old lines with too much hammer.
Best advice - call a local utility locator and get their take on it.
If you are in the dc/nova area I can help you with it, if not, good luck, you may need it!

Good idea on the thumper thing.
We use those cheap expanding bladder things that go on a garden hose, they are for clearing drain lines. We use them to locate pipe sometimes as they make an audible pulsing sound that can be heard even up to 4 feet down.

The smallest is about 1.5 inches though.

JB.

 

[RippySkippy]

Here's what I do to locate lines and the like...

Take two 24" pieces of bare 12 gauge copper wire bent about 6 inches from the end in a right angle. Loosely hold one piece in each hand. with your elbows at your side, and hands out front, walk slowly across the area. When you cross the pipe, the wires will cross. Working in a ziq-zag, you will be able to locate the line in question.

I know there will be doubters to this process...but I'm tell'n ya, it can and will work. Verify your own success by walking where the pipe is in a known location. You will have to experiment and adjust your grip, remember the wires must be held loosely.

I've found PVC 4' deep covered in rock and soil. Electrical lines 24" deep, and plastic water lines 5' deep. It's not going to cost you but a few cents in material, but give it a shot.

 

[JB4310]

I have one of these and have had some luck with it,

 

[Rockin' G Ranch]

If the line is open ended (broken off or not connected to anything) at the other end you can pump water down the line from the faucet in the field. Get a 200 gallon tank and 12 volt pump to pump water. By intermittantly pumping and stopping you can possibly cause a "hammer" effect that you can hear. Or just start heading in the direction you already found the pipe heading looking for a water puddle.

 

[bcp]

If the line is open ended (broken off or not connected to anything) at the other end you can pump water down the line from the faucet in the field.

I was thinking of doing the same, but using an air compressor.

Bruce

 

[ajmbonaire]

Thanks for all the replys so quickly. After and doing a little research based on the suggestions I think I am going to introduce a loud buzzer in the end of the pipe and use a mechanics stethoscope to try and follow the sound. If it dosen't work we will try some of the other suggestions. It will be a few days before I try it but will report back with the results.

 

[Michelle K linnane]

I was a little surprised at some of the answers from this post. I have found any kind of water lines and electric with a metal coat hanger, it is a 90 degree angle just like the tool showed. I normally use two. The are pointed out in front of me when I come to any type if pipe they go to the side showing you the flow. The best thing to do is practice where you know there
is pipe.


Come on Fellows I thought we had some good old boys on this SITE!!!!!

 

[gwjd]

are there people that live next door that have been there for ever maybe someone helped put the pipe in .... or herd about it ....

 

[ray66v]

Since some are mentioning, witching/dowsing/diving, you should know it has been debated several times on TBN in the past, to no good end.

Those with high blood pressure, or those who don't want to be frustrated, should avoid this topic. You could end up: :mur:

 

[ajmbonaire]

are there people that live next door that have been there for ever maybe someone helped put the pipe in .... or herd about it ....

We know someone lived there for a short period approx. 20 years ago. No neighbors at that time. We found remnants of a foundation and a power pole along with the fawcet I mentioned. As I was clearing the area I pushed up what I believe to be a bleeder line from a septic system, a four inch plactic pipe set in gravel. I have not found the septic tank as of yet. I am hoping to find a well on the property. This property is located in rural(really rural) area. So rural the county has no permit requirements for building etc.

 

[two_bit_score]

Can anyone tell me how to follow an underground water pipe? I found a faucet in the woods on 15 acres that has been idle for fifteen years or so. I dug down and started following the pipe but it became too difficult due to the dense undergrowth and trees that have grown up. I would like to determine where it terminates. I have seen no evidence of a well but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Any ideas? The pipe is PVC.

Wouldn't it normally go to a structure like a well house or dwelling? Any evidence of anything like that in the direction the pipe you could see was going?

 

[ajmbonaire]

Wouldn't it normally go to a structure like a well house or dwelling? Any evidence of anything like that in the direction the pipe you could see was going?

One would normally think it would. But, there is nothing in the direction the pipe is heading except more brush and trees. There is a creek approx. 1500 feet in that direction.

 

[JB4310]

Thanks for all the replys so quickly. After and doing a little research based on the suggestions I think I am going to introduce a loud buzzer in the end of the pipe and use a mechanics stethoscope to try and follow the sound. If it dosen't work we will try some of the other suggestions. It will be a few days before I try it but will report back with the results.

I think that would only work if the pipe was empty, no water in it, not sure though.
Buzz may not be the best to trace, something that is repetitive ticking clicking, banging etc.

As far as the dousing goes, I don't knock what works for others, but I have one of those modern dousing tools that looks like an antenna with a handle, and have not had definitive positive results.

JB.

 

[two_bit_score]

One would normally think it would. But, there is nothing in the direction the pipe is heading except more brush and trees. There is a creek approx. 1500 feet in that direction.

Well, do you think maybe they at one time had a pump in the creek and were pumping water to something near where the faucet was located?

I'd check out the creek to se f there is evidence of a cistern or old pump there?

 

[ajmbonaire]

Well, do you think maybe they at one time had a pump in the creek and were pumping water to something near where the faucet was located?

I'd check out the creek to se f there is evidence of a cistern or old pump there?

Yeah, we checked the creek and the area all the way to the faucet. Nothing obvious.

 

[RoMad]

since it is pvc you can easily adapt it to a pipe thread fitting then to a quick coupler for an air compressor hose. fill the tank on the air compressor where you have electricity, carry it to your place and connect the hose to the pipe. Then, hook it up and pressurize the pipe. I wouln't put more than 60 psi on it. If you are lucky you will hear the air coming out somewhere.
Another thought, if there is an old power pole you can trace any underground wires going to it and you should be able to find the one going to the well.
Good luck and don't forget to post back.