Water pipe depth

Question

What depth should I expect a water pipe to be? To clarify, I'm based in the UK.

Naikullah · Answer

Refer to the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations of 1999, which mandate that both installers and property owners/users adhere to specific requirements for pipework installation, ensuring the use of appropriate materials and fittings. Your local water authority can provide guidance on the proper installation of new supply pipework.

Before excavation, it is crucial to identify the locations of cables and pipes from other utility services. The trench width should be a minimum of the pipe's outside diameter (OD) plus 250mm to allow for proper sidefill compaction.

When water pipes enter or run beneath a building, they must be enclosed within ducting and sealed with a blanking cap, often accompanied by foam pipe insulation. If pipes are located within ducting, no joints or fittings should be used.

For details on bed and fill materials, consult WIS 4-08-01. In some cases, MDPE (Medium-Density Polyethylene) may be directly laid onto the trimmed trench bottom if the soil is uniform, fine-grained, and free from large stones and flints. Alternatively, trenches may need to be excavated to a depth allowing for a minimum 100mm bed of gravel, crushed stone, or coarse sand. A sand/gravel mix is acceptable, provided the gravel is less than 20mm in size.

Stephen · Answer

There is a minimum and maximum depth at which service pipes should be laid:

Minimum depth is 750 mm
Maximum depth is 1350 mm.
If an installer wishes to install a service pipe either deeper or shallower than these depths they must notify the local water supplier for permission.

Important note: The gas service should be at 600mm to ensure separation from the water service pipe.

Gary · Answer

1st Floor 1/ 8th of an inch in depth of joist, ground floor below screed 4 inch, outside ground 750 mm

Peter · Answer

Atleast 60centimeter ,the UK is not that "cold" country ,so the 60centimetter enough but for example in Russia or any east Europe country needs to dig atleast 1meter ,because the pipe will freeze out .

Jack · Answer

I assume you are talking external depth underground!    
If so then the pipework should be a minimum of 600mm underground.    
Now that is true for new installations but some historic installations could be set at a shallower depth.

Ian · Answer

If you mean a cold main water pipe under ground into your property needs to be 950mm deep

Doug · Answer

If your talking mains water they should be a minimum of 600 mm but some areas now say 750mm

Jeffrey · Answer

Blue water supply MDPE should be laid in a trench at a depth of at least 750mm (measured from the pipe crown), but no more than 1350mm, from the finished ground level and at least 350mm away from other utilities (such as gas or electricity). Some water authorities allow MDPE to be laid at a shallower depth, depending on circumstances, but must be insulated

David · Answer

I always thought it was two foot six or 76 cm .
If you do a few google searches then you will find either ;
The Water Regulations .
The Building Regulations .
Both will state the same depth

Suhail · Answer

Should be a minimum of 750mm according to the water regs

Water pipe depth

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