I'm getting ready to run my electrical conduit and water line out to my detached garage. Can I run them both in the same trench? I would put the water line in 3 1/2' deep, partially full the trench, and put the electrical conduit 18" deep. Thanks,
Electrical and waterline
- Thread starter nfk
- Start date
encantofred
Well-known member
as far as i know and can tell, the NEC does not prohibit running them in the same trench. local utilities my have different policies, but they will not be involved in running a subpanel feed to your garage.
as a practical measure, your separation of 2 feet is plenty in my mind. i ran my conduit 24" for subpanel feeds, but that was just personal preference.
conduit is not expensive. recommend to oversize it. makes for easier pulling and allows for upgrading if needed later.
tom
as a practical measure, your separation of 2 feet is plenty in my mind. i ran my conduit 24" for subpanel feeds, but that was just personal preference.
conduit is not expensive. recommend to oversize it. makes for easier pulling and allows for upgrading if needed later.
tom
Milton Shaw
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- Joined
- Feb 11, 2011
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Put an extra conduit in now while the ditch is open. You might want phone/cable/internet in the garage and now is the time to rough in for it. Even can run an air line back to the house for air use in the house.
joe_padavano
Well-known member
I've done exactly what you propose to do when running water and power to several barns and outbuildings on the farm. Frankly, I've never understood the issue - the electrical wiring will see more water exposure from the groundwater in the soil than anything the water line will cause. If your water line leaks that much, you have a far bigger problem.
Yes, the only issue is if you ever need to dig it up to get to the water line. Be sure to leave lots of slack in the wiring. I always lay a CAUTION tape in the trench above the wire (about a foot or so above, as I backfill) to serve as a warning for future digging.
Yes, the only issue is if you ever need to dig it up to get to the water line. Be sure to leave lots of slack in the wiring. I always lay a CAUTION tape in the trench above the wire (about a foot or so above, as I backfill) to serve as a warning for future digging.
homebuilt burner
Well-known member
I try to run larger water line than I need. If it does break you can sometimes slide a smaller dia. tube through it. I possibly saves digging later.
Slowgsr
Well-known member
I ran water, 2 data conduits, hydro (teck cable) and underground plastic natural gas line all in the same trench,
Just please but in the buried cable warning tape
Just please but in the buried cable warning tape
dave89iroc
Well-known member
What you guys use for water line
ForceFed70
Well-known member
They let me put electrical and gas in the same trench (2' of separation). Can't see why they wouldn't allow water if they allow gas.
joe_padavano
Well-known member
Black plastic well pipe, designed for exactly this application.
When I put the new service in for the garage, this is what I used. Cheap and easy to work with. I bought mine at TSC.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/100-psi-polyethylene-flexible-coil-pipe-1-in-x-100-ft
OP . . your idea of sharing trench likely fine in mild climate Kansas City.
However, curious HOW FAR of a trench are we talking about ?? Having 2 trenches is preferred because it gives you MORE options.
I'd rather share a trench for water at bottom like 36" (for mild KC) and Natural Gas (garage heat) at say 30" depth (with tracer wire so could be located later). In ANOTHER TRENCH I'd share between electrical at bottom 36" and low voltage (CATV, internet, phone, security, etc) at 24" after foot of backfill.
Still would recommend you work up scale drawing on draft paper with whatever you install so you will always know where they are located, without even having to "locate" lines before any future digging you might do. This is important as the 811/DigSafe locate services do NOT mark homeowner buried utility lines.
However, curious HOW FAR of a trench are we talking about ?? Having 2 trenches is preferred because it gives you MORE options.
I'd rather share a trench for water at bottom like 36" (for mild KC) and Natural Gas (garage heat) at say 30" depth (with tracer wire so could be located later). In ANOTHER TRENCH I'd share between electrical at bottom 36" and low voltage (CATV, internet, phone, security, etc) at 24" after foot of backfill.
Still would recommend you work up scale drawing on draft paper with whatever you install so you will always know where they are located, without even having to "locate" lines before any future digging you might do. This is important as the 811/DigSafe locate services do NOT mark homeowner buried utility lines.
I'm only going to have the electrical above the water line for about 30', then the electrical goes off in its own trench. I am planning on burying caution tape with everything.
I've buried miles of water line and electrical line in the same ditch. The power for every well has to get there somehow and around here they go in the same ditch.... One thing I do not agree with is the separation at different levels in the ditch. If you ever have to dig down to the water line to make a repair you do not want to have to avoid the electrical above the water... If you feel they need to be separated do it by placing them on opposite sides of the ditch.....
pstnbly
Well-known member
This + 1 My area require 2' of separation.
LX-Markham
Well-known member
Same here, ran power, gas, and water in the same trench. Ran the water line in a conduit in case I ever need to replace it.
wes73
Well-known member
I ran water, electric, phone, cable and ethernet in the same trench. I ran 3/4" PEX for water sleeved in 2" conduit. This was at 40". Back filled 2'. Ran another 2" conduit for electric. Back filled 6". Then ran 1-1/2" for the Cable, Phone and ethernet. All of this was 120' run and roughed in inside the building before the floor was poured. The inspectors for both eletric and final never asked about the trench, what was in it or and seperations.