Can I Put A Driveway Over Water Lines? (Find Out Now!)
When it comes to installing a new driveway, a popular question that often is asked is whether or not a driveway can be installed over water lines. Many homeowners are unsure about whether or not they may construct a driveway over subsurface water pipes.
You can build a driveway over water pipes that run underground, however, you must be careful. Excavation of the pipes is rarely ever needed, however, it wouldn’t hurt to hire a professional to check before you begin laying pavement. It will be even more costly if you have to have them excavated after the fact.
Water lines are constantly running beneath sidewalks and pavement. However, it is critical to create a new driveway in a safe and meticulous manner to avoid damaging any of these lines.
However, before beginning any development, you must first know exactly where water lines run through your landscaping. We will discuss this further below.
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Locate The Water Lines
Any time a home or property owner plans to dig underground, it’s critical to locate any underground services, such as water pipes, on the landscape first. Utility location is the process of identifying and designating subterranean utility wires.
While private lines (such as gas lines, different electric lines, and sprinkler systems) are considered the property owner’s duty, subterranean utilities are normally the responsibility of the homeowner and the public utility provider.
Check Maps
Looking at the available drawings and maps can help you find water lines. Note, however, that pipes and other cables may not be exactly where they are depicted on those drawings.
Here are a few actions you need to take:
- Get in touch with the proper utility provider to find out more about what you need to know.
- Search the area for any markers, manholes, or valves
- Obtain the necessary equipment to assist you in discovering the buried utility. If you choose this route, be sure you know how to operate the machinery.
- Engage the Services of a Professional To Discover the Water Pipes Beneath Your Lawn
Unfortunately, accidents can still happen even after water lines have been located for a variety of reasons:
- Those doing the construction are careless and dig the ground without adequate care to avoid those lines
- The water lines are not well marked
- Markings on the pipes have faded
- The construction team is unaware of what to look for
This is true not only for water lines but also for other utility lines. The term utility refers to a variety of services provided by public utility corporations, including natural gas, electricity, sewage, telephone lines, and water, to name a few.
A vast network of underground cables and pipelines transports water, electricity, and gas to all of a community’s buildings.
Before You Begin Follow This Advice
If you have any utility lines running through your property, you can use the following advice while putting in a new driveway:
Call Before You Dig
Call 811 to schedule a meeting with your local locator service before you start digging in your yard. They will come out and mark out the exact location of the underground utility lines in your driveway when you make an appointment.
Contact The Utility Companies
You can also phone the utility service provider for each of the utility lines in your landscaping to find out how far underground they are buried.
Electric lines are typically buried at a depth of 18 inches, whereas cable television lines may be placed at a smaller depth.
Dig By Hand
To avoid electric shock, hand dig very gently with the help of a fiberglass shovel. Avoid nicking, pulling, or breaking any subterranean lines.
If any pipes or lines are discovered inside the dig zone (up to a depth of 18 inches), contact the appropriate utility service provider for assistance in moving them.
Check Into These Repairs In The Future
The chances of utility wires flowing through your landscape ever needing repair are slim, but if they do, you’ll have to choose between digging a hole beneath your driveway or pulling it up.
Boring a hole beneath your driveway is not difficult; you can hire an expert contractor to do the task, burrow beneath it with your hands, or rent a boring unit. Nonetheless, if you think it’s time to upgrade your home’s electrical service, now is the moment.
Consider Conduit
Perhaps you’d like to run new lines while you’re constructing your driveway. Covering them in conduit would be a fantastic idea. This will help to protect you from probable dangers such as:
- The Dangers of Severing Utility Lines while Constructing a Driveway.
- Striking one of the utility pipes or cables by accident could be extremely dangerous:
- Destroying an electric cable might result in electrocution while damaging a gas pipe could result in a lethal explosion.
- Disrupting the provision of a variety of services to you and your neighbors. When enterprises, for example, are forced to close down, it may result in claims and expenditures.
- Repairing it will be quite expensive: The expense of repairing a split fiber optic is thousands of dollars.
- Construction activity should be put on hold until the damaged line is repaired.
- Water pipes may burst, flooding the area and causing damage to the neighboring property.
- If the damage continues unnoticed or the damaged line or pipe is not repaired properly, it can cause problems in the future.
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Related Questions
Water mains are typically buried about 1 to 3 feet deep in most places. However, if your area is prone to severe cold then it might need to be buried under the frost line so that it decreases the likelihood of it freezing.
Any underground pipes should be buried at the very least, 18 inches below the ground’s surface. However, there may be exceptions to this, which you will know about beforehand.
The piping should all be protected from rust and corrosion and should be coated according to Section 533(b) or something equal to that.
Check around your house for a well cap in the land that surrounds the house. The casing sits about 8 inches above the ground and it’s capped off to prevent contaminants. This is one way to find your well line.
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
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