Infrastructure Part 2

John's perspective.

In order to bring the park into conformity with the city, we will upgrade the water supply as we install new homes. For the first pod, this involved digging up the street and locating a tap (valve) on the main line, then cutting the old plastic hose and replacing it with 2” copper pipe. Since one line was not adequate for the four homes, a second line was tapped into the main. This process involved drilling and pulling the pipe under the street. The old water meters were replaced with the same digital meters that the city uses. The final step was to run ¾ inch high pressure schedule 40 PVC from the meter into the home.

Here is how it was done:

After determining the location of the water main and old water tap, digging begins.


The 6” cast iron main is located about 4 feet under the roadway. That’s the old valve sticking out of the main; the blue plastic pipe has been disconnected and cut.


Fresh digging begins on other side of road where four new water meters are going to be placed to service the home in the picture and the DWs not yet in place.


The long pole is an extension of a drill bit attached to the hydraulic system of the Ditch Witch. A 2” inch copper pipe will be forced through the hole being bored underneath the road.


These two 2” copper pipes will connect the water main to four water meters.


Having connected the copper pipe to the original valve, a sleeve for a second valve is being prepared. A piece of the old plastic pipe protrudes out of the hole next to the copper one.


After attaching a sleeve onto the main, a valve is connected to the main and opened. Using the threads that will later hold the pipe in place, they screw on a tube with the enclosed drill bit on to the valve. A hole is drilled through the open valve through the side of the main. The escaping water is contained within the tube. The drill bit is withdrawn from the valve, the valve is closed, and the drill tube is unscrewed. The valve is now ready to accept the copper pipe. This process allows the work to be done without turning off the water to the park.


The pipe is connected to both valves. The older valve is on top and new valve with sleeve is on the bottom.


“Y” splitters and fittings are placed on each pipe to accommodate four meters.


The new digital meters.


Filling the hole.


Packing it in.


The finished product.

This project was beyond the scope of a plumber. With specialized tools and equipment, it took four very experienced men all day to complete the job. This was just the installation of the water lines; the sewer and electrical work were done separately.

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