Waterline install

[JRobyn]

Hi folks,

Well, I decided to go with the "Waterline Bid". They started work last Friday. First step was getting in the tap/meter. I went with the 1" size due to the MUCH higher cost of the 2" (I'm having 2" water line run). They installed the meter box way too high for my liking, but there's not much I can do about it now. The installer commented that he didn't know how we thought we were gonna get a water line run; where the tap and meter were placed was "solid rock"! Guess that's why they didn't sink it any lower. It's far enough off the side of the entry to not be in the way too much. This shot is late Friday after the meter was in and the water line guys were there "cleaning up" around it. The dozer op is the lead water line installer. I don't know how long he's been operating that thing, but he is a joy to watch. Absolute poetry in motion. Every move is smooth, fluid, graceful. Sounds kinda strange for a 26,000# machine!

If you look close, you can see the trench/pipe in the background down the road a few yards, and the rocksaw at work behind that!

 

[JRobyn]

Here's the "rocksaw". It is quite a beast. You can just see the operator going behind the cutter wheel for scale. The wheel is about 10-12' diameter. Looks like a relatively small 3 or 4 cylinder diesel driving a big hydraulic pump. Everything on it is hydraulic. The main wheel motor is huge, probably 24" diameter.

 

[JRobyn]

Here's the "business end". They told me that these are "experimental" teeth that are supposed to be the best for my rock. The smaller tip is solid carbide.
You can see where they have run the teeth too long in the past and worn into the holders. From what I can tell, the teeth simply pop out (they use a tie-rod wedge and small sledge) and are held in by a spring steel collar around the tooth "root".

 

[JRobyn]

Action shot!

I had to wait until the breeze pushed the rock dust cloud back a little to be able to even see the saw! They tell me that the cab is optional. I sure wouldn't want to operate one of these as a day job without the cab!

 

[JRobyn]

Here's the saw and trench with a section of the installed waterline. They're about 150 ft along at this point. Only about 3,850 to go!

 

[RonR]

With rock like that, I don't guess you'd have to worry about the ground shifting and breaking that line!

Great pics!

ron

 

[EddieWalker]

Very impressive!!!

I have my water lines threads and posts confused here, and was hopeing you could go over your situation again. Is the waterline going through your land? Private property or along public land? It sure looks like your running it through the woods and I'm curious on your situation.

Thanks for all the great pictures,
Eddie

 

[JRobyn]

Hi Eddie,

This is the follow-on to my old "waterline bid" thread. The line is running down my access road through my property to our homesite and my in-law's cabin, coming from the county main out at the main county road. It was this or a well that was likely to be very low flow at best.