I am looking at a house to be built and there are power lines along the back, friends say this is likely 12,000 volt lines, these are lines on tall wooden poles, not metal towers.
If I build the house to the right of the lot the back of the house will be 16 feet away from the power lines, maybe a little more because I am not sure if the 16 foot on the diagram include the poles. Is there a safety issue with this distance in case lines come down, such as electrocution or fire?
I could build with the garage to the right of the property instead of the house which I am planning but may be tight fit for property as well as parking with one of two vehicles parked in driveway
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Paul, I wouldn't be terribly concerned about the lines coming down but it's good to keep in mind anyway. Another consideration would be is there any danger from the electromagnetic radiation from the line? I know my dad had to relocate his home to another part of his property when the power company doubled the line capacity a few years ago. He negotiated with the power company for two years through his lawyer to get adequate compensation for such things as new well, new power, new septic, moving the actual structure, etc. I don't know how big the lines must be to have this as a factor but you might check into it. BTW, the power company won't admit to any risk from being so close to power lines so you'll need to get information from other sources. I'll ask my dad where he got his information and repost later with the particulars. Maybe some of the more experienced electricians on this site can offer some info on this too.
I suggest you call the utility that controls the power line before you go much further. There is usually a specified right of way along transmission lines. We have 15KV lines through our back yard that have a 34ft right of way either side of center where no permanent structure may be built.
That electromagnetic radiation causes your babies to be born naked. I'd avoid it at all cost. I've got a friend whose house was under the power lines....he's nuts now and I know why.
I can certainly appreciate the humor in your answer but seriously, the radiation issue isn't a laughing matter. Even though the power company wouldn't admit to the reality of the problem, they were willing to pay a lawyer for two years of negotiation and my dad a healthy amount to move his house to another part of his property. If that isn't an admission of sorts (or an expensive means of avoidance) for the potential dangers of electromagnetic radiation, I don't know what is. I do know it's related to higher incidence rates of leukemia. BTW- I'd be damned worried about a baby born with its booties on more than your naked one... Take care.
Actually the story is true, I've added onto the house 3 times in 3 years. Those lines hum. The street has a high cancer rate in all sorts of varity. The homeowner is healthy, but not home much(long haul trucker) his family(my friends) have all sorts of medical problems and have had babies of their own with birth defects. So it's either the power lines, or the water.
Several years ago, I did a lot of research on the issue.
There does not seem to be a statistically significant
connection between power-line radiation and leukemia in humans.
But, there are studies that show some possible effects
on animals. Not nearly enough research has been done. The
power companies are afraid because if such research is done
and it shows even minor issues, they have a major problem.
Research is sparse concerning sensitive groups - children,
expectant mothers. There IS a known problem with "stray current",
where ground currents are induced which produce unexpected current
flow in unexpected locations. This has been noted in farms and
seems mostly to have an effect on cattle.
At any rate, the inconclusive research does not impress me
as to the absolute safety of power lines. Much simpler to prove
a positive effect rather than a non-effect. Given a choice, I don't
spend much time under power lines. I would not choose to live
very near to them. How far? Don't know exactly.
Bob's post is right on. There hasn't been a significant effect reported and confirmed in follow-up studies. One huge difficulty is that people who live under power lines tend to be poorer, smoke more, etc. It's hard to back out the ill effects of those behaviors to arrive at the risk of power lines by themselves. Clearly, it can't be a huge effect or it would have been definitely detectable long ago.
That said, there are definitely biological effects being measured from EMF in laboratory settings. Maybe some good effects, probably mostly bad effects.
If you smoke, drink too much or too little, are overweight, drive without a seat belt, or keep a gun in the house; then don't worry about power lines. Clearly you are willing to take on much larger risks. (Yes, I know, risks assumed voluntarily are emotionally different than those that are thrust upon you. But dead is dead - whether from lung cancer or a meteorite).
And why worry about external sources of EMF and not about those in your own house? Go with grounded metallic conduit, wherever your house is located. Or all DC wiring. And never use an electric blanket! Heck, go with wood stoves and kerosene lanterns. Oops, now we're back to lung cancer again.
You could always do a metal roof and ground it. But if it is something that will cause you worry or anxiety, skip it. Find another lot somewhere else.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
Despite the fact that I'm concerned about this risk,
its relative magnitude appears very small in comparison
to everything else. For example, there is probably a
higher risk of being hit by a bus driven by a cross-dressing
Elvis impersonator on his/her way to Area 51.
But, since I'm a contrary person (and use a woodstove)
I'm still uncomfortable under power lines. There is no
good data one way or the other.
> There IS a known problem with "stray current", where ground currents ....
This is a very different thing than EMF from power lines. Stray current happens when the power company deliberately uses the earth as a conductor. Long ago this was done by trolley companies in cities, but now it's mostly old lines out in the country. It seems that they can get enough voltage at a low enough impedance over the length of a cow to give the animal a sort of hot foot. Stick a rod in the ground one place, and another someplace else, and you can measure some substantial voltage. You might even be able to run some lights that way -- sorta like living next door to a bank that regularly dumps a little stray money in your back yard. I'm not sure if any farmers have taken advantage of that, but I did hear of one back in the early days of radio, when there were 500kW AM stations, who lit his chicken coop with power off the air from a nearby station.
-- J.S.
Look at it this way. If you build close to the lines, use florescent instead of incandescent bulbs in your house. They'll light up without even being wired up.
There's always a bright side (bad pun intended).
With increased power consumption, many utilities are increasing the amount of juice flowing through their transmission lines. Think forward to how much voltage your lines may carry in the future.
If it were me, I'd pass on building near the lines.