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what kind of water line to run from well

| Posted in General Discussion on August 15, 2002 11:19am

My wife and I have purchased an acerage and are in the proccess of remodeling the whole place. I need to run a new water line from the well pit to the house. I was wondering if any one could recommend a certain type of water line? The line will be about 150′ long for now. In the future I plan to have the pump and pressure tank brought into the house. Any input would be appreciated.

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  1. DavidThomas | Aug 15, 2002 11:50pm | #1

    3/4" would be an absolute minimum but not a good choice. 1" would be fine for a typical to large-sized house and garden over that distance.

    Material? Check with your code-authority, if there is one. For instance, I'm required to have a current-carrying pipe so it can be thawed if frozen. So copper (most common), steel, or a special plastic pipe with a metal strip in it are all allowed. (I also put in it at 11 feet depth to avoid freezing). If freezing isn't an issue, schedule-40 PVC is cheap and easy and then there is no reason to not go up to 1.5" (all sizes are cheap) and then you'll have essentially no pressure drop in that 100' length. Harder to find but more bomb-proof is a polyethylene pipe with metal risers attached at each end. Can't get it at the big-box home center - you have to go to a real plumbing supply house and give the exact length you need. They make it to order. PE is more substanial than PVC because there are no joints below grade. It also is potantially safer. With no joints to make, there is no temption to jump into the open trench and die when the sidewalls cave in.

    David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
  2. jet | Aug 15, 2002 11:50pm | #2

    There is a disscusion going on about this under "copper for water main?" there has been quite the disscusion about copper vs plastic and the different kinds of plastic, as well as how to bury the line.

    Check it out.

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