Replacing old galvanized water supply line from meter to entry at house

[k9mlxj]

You should be able to "push" the new pipe under the concrete slab, but WILL need to make a big enough hole to "bend it" up out of the ground.

The Water Company tecnhician said 18 inches down would be the right depth.

I am now leaning on doing this myself--or get some young kids to do the digging. Just need to know which way to dig (particularly under the concrete slab).


So some details want to know... :


1. I wonder how big of a hole size (rough diameter) do I need to dig to push the new pipe under concrete slab? (It's 7 ft into the concrete slab before the current pipe turns upward)


The old pipe is in the way -- so need to pull it out first?

If so, still need to break/cut out a hole around the concrete slab and cut the old galvanized pipe,

then, do the digging from the dirt end on the concrete slab, toward the bottom of the spot where it comes up above concrete, and then pull out the old galvanized pipe section after the hole is made?


2. Since 18 inches down would be the right depth, and the water meter is about 1 feet below ground right now, so he said that the pipe would slope downward.


Just wonder about this detail -- at which point would the new pipe slope downward after the water meter --

-- immediately after new pipe connects to the water meter, or
-- a few feet further -- before going under the side walk (it's about 6 feet after the meter before the new line would go under a side walk)
-- immediately after the side walk
-- immediately before enter the fence of the backyard?
-- immediately after entering the fence of the backyard?


3. The water company technician suggested the new line normally goes diagonally to the concrete slab (for a shorter length?).


So wonder if the new line should go diagonally

- immediately after the meter, or
- after the fence in the backyard


Haven't done this before at all, so wonder about these details... .


[ Meter ] - (6 ft dirt) --> [ side-walk ] (4.5 ft wide) --> dirt (5 ft) --> fence --> 30 ft dirt --> concrete slab (7ft) --> goes up to concrete level


Thx.