There are a number of reasons you might need to find underground water lines.
For example, if you’re planning to do any excavating on your property, it’s important to know where these lines are located so that you can avoid damaging them.
Additionally, if you’re experiencing issues with your water supply, tracing the line back to its source can help you identify where the problem is coming from.
How do I Find Underground Water Lines?
There are a few different ways that you can go about finding underground water lines.
Which one is best will depend on your location, the type of pipe, and many other factors.
Contact Your Local Utility Company
Many people do not consider this at first, but one option is to contact your local utility company; they will be able to provide you with a map that shows the location of all the water lines in your area in many instances.
If this is the case you are in luck since this is the easiest way to find underground water lines.
Look for Above-Ground Signs
In some cases, you may be able to find above-ground signs that indicate the location of underground water lines.
For example, many water lines are marked with small metal plates that have the word “water” stamped on them.
These plates are usually placed at regular intervals along the length of the pipe.
Another above-ground sign that can indicate the presence of an underground water line is a small, round cap that covers a hole in the ground.
These caps are usually blue or green, and they often have a small metal handle sticking up out of them.
If you see any of these signs, it’s a good idea to dig carefully in the area to see if you can locate the pipe.
Using a Metal Detector
Metal detectors are not just for finding coins and other valuables on the beach.
It can be a viable option to use a metal detector to find underground water lines; while this won’t work for all types of pipes, it can be helpful in locating metal water lines.
Using an Underground Pipe Locator
One of the most effective ways to find underground water lines is to use an underground pipe locator.
This is a specialized piece of equipment that uses electromagnetic waves to locate pipes and other metal objects beneath the ground.
Pipe locators are available for rent or purchase from many hardware stores, and they can be a very useful tool if you need to find underground water lines.
We have a dedicated article about underground pipe locators if you are interested in this option when finding underground water lines.
The Last Resort
Finally, if you have access to a backhoe or other excavating equipment, you can try digging around until you find the pipe.
When using this method to find underground water lines it’s important to be careful and avoid damaging the water lines.
Damage to underground water lines can be very expensive to repair, and can also cause disruption to other utility customers.
In some cases there are penalties and fines for damaging public underground utility lines.
Contact a Professional if Needed
If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it’s best to contact a professional who can help you safely locate the lines.
Locating underground water lines is a very specialized task, and a professional that has experience can complete the task more safely and quickly in most cases.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are several different ways that you can go about finding underground water lines.
The best method will depend on your specific situation.
It is best to start with the simpler and less expensive methods first to see if the underground water lines can be located that way.
