Underground water line

[cobragrover]

I'm not sure which sub-forum this should go in so feel free to move if you like.

What is the best underground water pipe to run from cistern to house or garage? I think the choices are regular pvc pipe in schedule 40 or 80 or the coiled HDPE pipe. This is cistern only, no well water available. This is in southern Indiana if that matters.

Thanks

 

[toyotadriver]

What distance?

I'd probably run Schedule 80 PVC.

 

[why worry]

I would probably use PEX as long as it isn't exposed to sun light.

 

[kbs2244]

What kind of pressure?
S 80 is way over kill for most residential applications.
The coiled black stuff will hold up to most water pumps pressures.
Go oversized for good flow if it is over 50 feet end to end.

 

[MagKarl]

Pros and cons to both. The poly line fittings are expensive but the tubing itself is pretty durable. PVC is easy to work with but the fittings are more brittle in my opinion. I used 20' belled PVC for my well line.

 

[SJR033]

Either will work fine. If it was me, I would use HDPE. Just for the simple reason of no joints. Every joint is a failure point and no joints is a big plus. What ever you go with, please include a tracer wire for future locating.

 

[Radix2]

poly pipe

 

[pstnbly]

160psi PE

 

[joe_padavano]

Why reinvent this? The coiled black poly pipe is DESIGNED for this application for wells. You can get it anywhere. Fittings are not expensive. I've run lots of this to remote hydrants on the farm. Just do it.

 

[Majordisorder]

You didn't mention what type of terrain you were in. If rocky, you may want to bring in sand to bed pvc in, or just use 160 or even 200 psi poly and cover by hand first. Machine backfilling over bare pipe can be risky.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You're in Indiana so you should have a Menard's close by. Like many others mentioned, they black poly will work fine and it's available in varying lengths.

http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor...4431558853-c-8570.htm?tid=5140539674302044586

 

[Handyfarmer]

the poly pipe comes in approved for potable water NSF and non approved, (used for sprinklers), use the approved, NSF,



Poly pipe (the black coils) if the soil is rocky they can spring leaks via the rocks against them, (I have not had this problem but a neighbor has,)

PEX,

PVC

Copper

Steel

on the farm I have about 1/2 mile of pvc to tanks in the pasture, ( pushing 25-30 years no problems)
and have 1/2 + mile of Polly pipe to tanks and from a windmill (1998 or 99 put that in no problems)
and have some old very old steel lines int he yard (close to 100= years old), I will be replacing them with either poly or PEX here hopefully be failure in the next year,

 

[NUTTSGT]

the poly pipe comes in approved for potable water NSF and non approved, (used for sprinklers), use the approved, NSF,

Correct, I believe Menard's has them listed as Yellow/non-pot and Blue as potable. I believe the link I showed above was for the blue.

 

[SJR033]

HDPE (poly pipe) comes in many different types. CTS, IPS, SIDR. Any that are NSF potable water will work. Each type, requires it own type of fitting. We typically only sell the CTS because a copper sized compression fitting will work on it. But use what you have available. I recommend that you keep a piece of the pipe that has the stampings, telling you what type & size the pipe is. Sometime down the road that line will break or be cut or need to be spliced into and having the original piece with the type, will let you get the correct fittings.

 

[homebuilt burner]

If you use 1 1/2" black poly if it leaks later you can slide something smaller through it without digging. We have done so in the past on our farm.

 

[OldracerJones]

I use the HDPE for all long runs underground. Last year the lake level was down and I had to chase water 280 feet. I used this pipe and on e the lake filled back up I just rolled the pipe up and stored it. All of my hose pipes are underground with this. The main difference between the two over the years has been the HDPE will usually
Rack at the fittings due to hose clamp failures. The PVC will crack, usually underground, and can be affected by roots.

 

[cowboy73]

My parents, who also live in southern Indiana, just had a new well drilled. SCH 80 PVC was used, as was their previous well. In the past, dad used the black roil of plastic pipe, He had leaks and had to replace the run once in about 20 years! 1000' of pipe!!!! No leaks whatsoever with the PVC though for almost 16 years.... The new well was needed because a spring opened up and was running through a vein of coal that was contaminating the water.

 

[csp]

In the past, dad used the black roil of plastic pipe, He had leaks and had to replace the run once in about 20 years!

Without knowing what PSI that black plastic pipe was, that's not saying much. HDPE isn't the same as it was 20+ years ago either.

 

[Handyfarmer]

most likely it will all need replaced at some point, I think most modern pipe if properly used, installed, should last 50 plus years,

there are grades, and psi, rating and even in some instances grades, for under ground and other uses,

as said the poly I have has done me well, except when I caught it with the back hoe, but then the steel was tore up as well,

I have seen PVC split (I personally have not had any problems),

I do think from time to time one gets a bad batch of pipe, regardless of the material and failure will occur sooner than it should,

 

[joe_padavano]

In the past, dad used the black roil of plastic pipe, He had leaks and had to replace the run once in about 20 years! 1000' of pipe!!!! No leaks whatsoever with the PVC though for almost 16 years....

So the old pipe lasted 20 years and the PVC is better because it has lasted only 16 years so far? I'm struggling with that logic (as well as other factors on what exactly caused the original failure, like not setting the pipe in sand or stone dust).