Installing Buried Water Line to Outbuilding

[homebrewz]

Greetings. I'd like to run a buried water line to an outbuilding to supply well water to existing plumbing and I'm wondering what the best method would be. It's a studio/office with existing plumbing about 120' off the house. A shallow well jet pump pulls water in from a pond about 200' away via a buried 1.25" OD poly water line. In the warmer months, I run a garden hose instead. The jet pump won't keep pressure anymore (possibly a break at the pond end where the poly is connected to a metal pipe) and it recently stopped working all together, so I'd like to just run a permanent line for potable well water.

I was considering running a new line directly from the house to the studio, but there are obstacles in the way, like tree roots, a septic line, electric line, and a concrete patio. Plus, the closest section of the house is an addition with no crawlspace. I've attached a sketch of the layout of everything.

I'm wondering what the best path would be? I'm also wondering if the best option would be to dig up the middle of the line to the pond and re-route it to the house where the well comes in? I've read that 1.25" might be the needed diameter anyway for a long run. Would I need an additional pressure tank or anything else, or can I just connect to the plumbing? I realize with cold weather coming, this might have to be put off until spring, but I figured I'd at least look into it. Thanks!

 

[DAKSY]

My stepson runs a directional drilling company based in the Capital District of NY. DM me & I can give you his info. Roots and rocks are
not an issue with his equipment, & he can drill below any buried lines, cables & the concrete slab . Not sure what the price of his services will be.

 

[homebrewz]

Thanks, Bob! I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Greetings. I'd like to run a buried water line to an outbuilding to supply well water to existing plumbing and I'm wondering what the best method would be. It's a studio/office with existing plumbing about 120' off the house. A shallow well jet pump pulls water in from a pond about 200' away via a buried 1.25" OD poly water line. In the warmer months, I run a garden hose instead. The jet pump won't keep pressure anymore (possibly a break at the pond end where the poly is connected to a metal pipe) and it recently stopped working all together, so I'd like to just run a permanent line for potable well water.

I was considering running a new line directly from the house to the studio, but there are obstacles in the way, like tree roots, a septic line, electric line, and a concrete patio. Plus, the closest section of the house is an addition with no crawlspace. I've attached a sketch of the layout of everything.

I'm wondering what the best path would be? I'm also wondering if the best option would be to dig up the middle of the line to the pond and re-route it to the house where the well comes in? I've read that 1.25" might be the needed diameter anyway for a long run. Would I need an additional pressure tank or anything else, or can I just connect to the plumbing? I realize with cold weather coming, this might have to be put off until spring, but I figured I'd at least look into it. Thanks! View attachment 342668

One idea would be to install a poly potable water pipe to the house or under the addition and then heat trace. Then it could be installed in PVC pipe. You would need to be able to drain it easily, so it would help if there is a slope, otherwise could blow it out.

 

[brenndatomu]

If the existing line is 1.25" OD, you might be able to use it as a conduit to pull a new 3/4" inside it. If you use a garden hose in the summer, a 3/4" line would have as much or more capacity then that.
Directional boring is certainly an option, but beware it's not cheap, and it's not foolproof...they do manage to bore through other underground utilities, all too often.
And if they go under any concrete pads, or pavement, make sure they aren't too shallow, or the bore will heave the ground and crack the concrete/blacktop... BTDT.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Greetings. I'd like to run a buried water line to an outbuilding to supply well water to existing plumbing and I'm wondering what the best method would be. It's a studio/office with existing plumbing about 120' off the house. A shallow well jet pump pulls water in from a pond about 200' away via a buried 1.25" OD poly water line. In the warmer months, I run a garden hose instead. The jet pump won't keep pressure anymore (possibly a break at the pond end where the poly is connected to a metal pipe) and it recently stopped working all together, so I'd like to just run a permanent line for potable well water.

I was considering running a new line directly from the house to the studio, but there are obstacles in the way, like tree roots, a septic line, electric line, and a concrete patio. Plus, the closest section of the house is an addition with no crawlspace. I've attached a sketch of the layout of everything.

I'm wondering what the best path would be? I'm also wondering if the best option would be to dig up the middle of the line to the pond and re-route it to the house where the well comes in? I've read that 1.25" might be the needed diameter anyway for a long run. Would I need an additional pressure tank or anything else, or can I just connect to the plumbing? I realize with cold weather coming, this might have to be put off until spring, but I figured I'd at least look into it. Thanks! View attachment 342668

Did you want it year round, or seasonal? Water pipe does not need to be buried deep unless it's 4 season. Even then you would need some heat tracing.

 

[homebrewz]

If the existing line is 1.25" OD, you might be able to use it as a conduit to pull a new 3/4" inside it. If you use a garden hose in the summer, a 3/4" line would have as much or more capacity then that.
Directional boring is certainly an option, but beware it's not cheap, and it's not foolproof...they do manage to bore through other underground utilities, all too often.
And if they go under any concrete pads, or pavement, make sure they aren't too shallow, or the bore will heave the ground and crack the concrete/blacktop... BTDT.

The more I think about it, the more I think trying to utilize the existing 1.25" poly line is the best option, since it involves only digging up one end and not having to dig near the studio. I wonder if would be possible to pull a smaller line through? Might have a fish a long wire through first. Though, the little bit I've read said that long runs of pex should be a larger diameter, closer to 1.25" so perhaps we could use the existing line.

 

[homebrewz]

Did you want it year round, or seasonal? Water pipe does not need to be buried deep unless it's 4 season. Even then you would need some heat tracing.

Year round. I'm in Zone 5, so I think 4' is the minimum.

 

[Whitenuckler]

The more I think about it, the more I think trying to utilize the existing 1.25" poly line is the best option, since it involves only digging up one end and not having to dig near the studio. I wonder if would be possible to pull a smaller line through? Might have a fish a long wire through first. Though, the little bit I've read said that long runs of pex should be a larger diameter, closer to 1.25" so perhaps we could use the existing line.

The existing 1.25"might not be round and straight, which would make very hard to pull inside of it, but if you dig up every 30 feet or so and make splices on the new pipe maybe with lots of pulling lube. Is it potable water you need? Is the existing pipe potable?

 

[Murray01]

Come off the back of the house and tie into the existing line from the pond.

IF you can put a slight incline from the house to the pond line tie in and if the existing pond line has a slight incline to the studio you’d be able to drain the line if needed.

Lots of “ifs”