Converting from Well to Town Water

[vinht]

I am about to connect to our town water system. The well will still be used for the irrigation system. I recently received an estimate of $1000 to lay the line (1" copper) from the gate to the house. They are not digging the trench, just laying the line and connecting to the gate. The gate is approximately 90 feet from the house and is already there so no work needed to install a gate. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks.

[cgallery]

I am about to connect to our town water system. The well will still be used for the irrigation system. I recently received an estimate of $1000 to lay the line (1" copper) from the gate to the house. They are not digging the trench, just laying the line and connecting to the gate. The gate is approximately 90 feet from the house and is already there so no work needed to install a gate. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks.

I think the price is high is no excavation is required. Can't you lay the tubing and then (if required by local ordinance) pay a plumber's hourly rate to connect?

[Tom Slick]

I'm surprised they are using copper, PVC is the norm around here.
how far is the run that the plumber will be installing?

[Pappy]

I'm surprised they are using copper, PVC is the norm around here.

My first thought, too. Continuous roll PVC pipe is the most commonly used.

[vinht]

I was told from Public Works that it needs to be 1" copper.

[scorrpio]

1" copper? oh boy. And for this particular application, it likely has to be type K too. Type L at least. Over here, 1" L copper is almost $50 per 10' - so factor in fittings and stuff, and it's half a grand for the 90' of copper alone.

[just4funsies]

Copper is expensive, but $11 per foot (not including excavation) seems rather high, methinks. I'd get a couple more estimates.

[parnelli]

1" copper? oh boy. And for this particular application, it likely has to be type K too. Type L at least. Over here, 1" L copper is almost $50 per 10' - so factor in fittings and stuff, and it's half a grand for the 90' of copper alone.

We've got 1" K here as well- and I think that it might even be more than 50 per 10'. If it were 75 or 80 I wouldn't be surprised.

[vinht]

My landscaper asked someone he knew that does this in the town next to us. He told him approximately $4000 and said I got a "smokin" deal.

I don't understand why utility work is so expensive!

[crokett]

Why can't you buy the pipe, put it in the trench then pay for the hookup at the street? Does the tie-in at your house have to be inspected?

[dabeeler]

Why would they require a 1" line to the house when the standard residential size meter is 5/8"? Would seem that 3/4" white pvc would be plenty. The water system here let me use white pvc (2") to extend a water main about 100" to my lot so they could hook a meter to it and sell me water. From the water meter to the house is 3/4 and that servers two dwellings.

[just4funsies]

Why would they require a 1" line to the house when the standard residential size meter is 5/8"? Would seem that 3/4" white pvc would be plenty. The water system here let me use white pvc (2") to extend a water main about 100" to my lot so they could hook a meter to it and sell me water. From the water meter to the house is 3/4 and that servers two dwellings.

1" Type K copper is not much bigger (inside diameter, which is where it counts) than 3/4" PVC, and 3/4" copper is considerably smaller inside than even Sch. 40 PVC, so it would take 1" copper to do the same job as 3/4" PVC. "Nominal" sizes can be misleading.