LONG Water Line Question

txdon · Mar 1, 2006

I'm tired. I have been looking for a water leak for two days. The water line is my 2" line with slip connections every 20'. it is about 1/2 mile long. It is fed by a 3/4" nipple from the 6" county water supply. About two months ago there was a massive leak in the yard on the last slip joint. The last joint slipped out because the end of the line moved over the course of 7 years. I just dug up the last 20 feet and slipped it back together.

Yesterday I noticed the little wheel in the meter was turning slowly, about a revolution per 30 seconds. I calculated about 100 gallons a day. I watched it for about ten minutes and thought I have a leak. I walked all lines and no wet ground. I turned off all the 5 - 3/4" lines attached to my main 2" and the wheel was still moving. I am thinking I now have the leak isolated to the 2"line. I then, with the box blade scraped the grass off of the 2" water line to see if I could see a wet spot. No wet spot. The wheel is still turning. Today I started hand digging every 20' to find out which slip joint is leaking. So far there are no leaks I did about 1 tenth of the line. So this afternoon I go and Look at the wheel and it is not moving - no leak!! or is it just that the outside temperature (80 degrees) expanded the PVC back into the slip joint????
I then turn on a faucet for 5 seconds and let out a 1/2 gallon of water. The wheel moves for ten minutes and and then slowly stops.

This evening we use the water (showers) and then don't use it for 1 1/2 hours. The wheel is still moving.

My question how long does the water go though the meter after use before the pressure is equalized?

Am I looking for a leak that does not exist???? Does the pressure take hours to equalize? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

We just started using the cabin full time this month so I don't have an average gallon usage to compare with.

Thanks.

YanmarFever · Mar 1, 2006

Don, I think your meter might be faulty, why dont you call the water co. and ask them for an opinion on their meter?

You might be digging up your turf for nothing.
good luck
Ernie

txdon · Mar 1, 2006

tractorErnie. I thought that also, but then, I have a cut-off 1 foot past the meter and when I turn it off the wheel stops. So I ruled out a faulty meter. Thanks.

3RRL · Mar 1, 2006

Don,
I would guess you have a leak alright. Water lines should not "get up to pressure" so to speak. They are like hydraulic lines and should run when the valve is open and stop when the valve is closed. Unless there's air or a leak in the lines, it should stop right after you turn all the valves off, like when you turn your big valve off at the main.

Do you have any other place that uses water off those lines that might be running?

YanmarFever · Mar 1, 2006

How about some type of moisture meter, or a core sample tool ?
I dont believe in water witching.
Ernie

Egon · Mar 1, 2006

Kinda hate to say this but is there any way to increase the line pressure to kinda help the leak along.

Not knowing where the leak is can you dig up the pipe at the midpoint and shut it off. This will tell you which side the leak is on. Then do the same over and over till its located.

Have you considered line relacement?

Egon

ToadHill · Mar 1, 2006

Many years ago I worked in the summer for the local water department. They had some kind of a device with a probe to stick into the ground and listen for running water. Perhaps of you call the local water department they may have something like it.

jinman · Mar 2, 2006

Don, with that type of "slip" connection, it seems to me you have a possibility of many, many small leaks. After all, if it leaked in one spot, couldn't it leak in others? Maybe the temperature of the water and ground has a lot to do with leaks. As the water lays there in the shallow line, it heats up and seals the joints. When cool water from the main feed comes in, it cools the line and it leaks slightly. This is not what you wanted to hear, but I think it's possible. Such small leaks would go undetected on the surface. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

ByronBob · Mar 2, 2006

Time to get on the phone to the water co. and see what they can do for you....

Jimbrown · Mar 2, 2006

It almost looks like you are saying that the slip joints are not glued together. Surly that is not true. Check your commodes. Mine almost always get dirt in the valves when I work on the water line and run untill I clean them.