I want to install sprinklers and sod in the backyard. Plan on using some sort of trencher to dig up the soil. I thought that before I start digging, that I should make sure to determine whether there is anything under the ground that I should watch out for. I’m in San Mateo County in California. I’m hoping someone local to my part of the world, could let me know who I should call to determine whether there is anything I need to be careful of.
Thanks,
Tark
Replies
I really doubt that there's anything that close to the surface but you could call your local DPW or the building department for your area. Either should be able to advise you.
BTW, there's a specific trenching machine for this job, commonly available at most equipment rental places. As a general rule it's about eight inches to the bottom of the trench. The machine has a precision adjustment for depth.
You need only decide what kind of system you want to install, then put the PVC pieces together, in order to calculate depth. Starting at the bottom with a 3/4"X1/2" T, adding the sprinkler and a threaded nipple of the proper length to make up about eight inches of depth. Using pop up sprinklers makes it easier to get them at a safe height for lawn mower operation.
I put in a PVC pipe, brass sprinkler system in SoCal a few years ago, with brass valves too. Although they're the oldest type of sprinkler, they do an excellent job of watering and last virtually forever.
I don't have much faith in the newer plastic sprinklers because they spray so much mist into the air. If there's any wind at all, even a few mph, the water gets taken off target. The dry California air also causes the fine spray to be absorbed as humidity.
Edited 6/24/2008 2:50 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
"I really doubt that there's anything that close to the surface but you could call your local DPW or the building department for your area. Either should be able to advise you. "
NEVER ASSUME. Our gas line was about 7 inches down when my husband severed it with a shovel. We knew it was in the area, but weren't being careful yet because we were still so shallow. The company that fixed it told me the mininum was only 12 inches, so a trencher still would have cut it.
"I really doubt that there's anything that close to the surface but you could call your local DPW or the building department for your area. Either should be able to advise you. " HVC
NEVER ASSUME.
Please save that tone for your family members. There's nothing in my statement which assumes anything.
Like the OP...I currently live and work in California and I'm familiar with it's building practices. One of those practices is to allow for future sprinkler systems by burying everything else at least two feet below grade.
That's been SOP for more than fifty years.
There should be a listing for BUD (Before You Dig), or some such thing in the white pages of your phone book. There may or may not be a charge for the locating services in your area.
BTW some phone and/or cable/satilite direct burial cables are often less than the 8" rcommended depth of lawn sprinkler systems.
Try looking in the yellow pages under "Excavation". There may likely be an advertisement there for the local locating service alongside the excavation services. Here, it is free, as I suspect it is in most places.
I could give you a hundred stories of F-ups and near misses that occurred when utilities were not located prior to digging.
Call 811
http://www.call811.com/
Call 811 like already posted but I don't have the most confidence with the people doing the marking. If you know you're lot fairly well be there when they come or do something to indicate where your service comes in. Just had problems with locates in the last few weeks and they the didn't mark my power & cable lines prior to the PoCo contractors cutting it (power line no less!). Call again for locate on the whole yard so cable line can be replaced and they skipped the phone line completely.
I doubt any of your service is that close to the surface but if you don't call 811 prior to your digging you can be held liable for any damage you may cause.
You should (and must legally) call the locate service. And that protects from the repair expense if you do hit one of the services that they mark.
Typically for residential services they use one person with sensors that traces from where it enters the house and observable points just has transformers and connection taps for underground power and phone.
They might not locate for all services.
And they don't locate any thing that is not public utility. So if you have power to an outbuilding or gas line to yard light (or used to years ago) then won't mark those. But I have heard that in some areas they will for an extra fee, IF YOU EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE.
In someplaces cable is as bad as some DIY in that they will take a shovel and make a slot a couple of inches deep and drop the cable in that.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Thanks to everyone that responded. I'll try 811 for sure and look in the phone book if needed. The good news is that phone, cable, and power are all up on a pole in the backyard. Water comes through the front of the house. I guess, for what ever reasons, I was more concerned about anything else that might be there, especially since phone, cable, power services run through the backyard, I imagine there is some easement.Thanks again!