Lawn irrigation update

Now that the weather has cooled a bit, I’ve gotten back at the process of revitalization of our long dormant lawn sprinkler system. Discovered another zone, but still have not located the water source. Still thinking in the back of my mind there was a ‘water well’ that I so far can’t locate on the property.
Did discover a 1 1/2 inch line that ‘T’s off at the property line, and goes under my neighbor’s driveway, at least 25’. Don’t know how far exactly as that’s all the longer my tape measure is(I capped the pipe at the property line, and ran my tape measure in the pipe before capping it).
Did discover another 1 1/2” pipe that runs along the property line, heading downhill towards the ‘draw’.
Thank goodness all the piping so far as been less that 12” deep. lol.
The mystery continues.

jaybmiller wrote: One possible solution.. Assuming it's all plastic pipe, buy a 'fox and hounds' wire locator set and a 100' fish tape. Snake the fishtape into the pipe, connect 'fox', turn it on. Now use the 'hound' to find the  pipe. Mark the pipes location and take several pictures ,different angles and 'fixed markers'.

Been considering something like that, for the section that goes onto the neighbors property. Supposedly decades ago, that city plot was originally part of the homestead we now own. I don’t know if that pipe goes off straight, or has gently curve to it, the tape measure pushed in easily so didn’t catch on any seams or rough joints.
The pipe that runs down hill along the property line does have at least one zone that ‘T’s off at 90 deg., following along the property line, it is capped where a neighbor decades ago planted a line of trees right on the property line.

I did stop at city hall, and ask if they had any records of private water wells within city limits, they answered ‘no’. Don’t know if they were truthful, or just too lazy to find out. I have put in a request from the city to lookup all permits pulled for this property from 1923 to current day. We’ll see how long that takes. I know some municipalities require a blueprint of lawn irrigation systems within their borders, evidently this city does not.

Edited by Lars(wi) - 12 Sep 2023 at 2:33pm

It was before 1979 so a long time ago, but had a college class in realest and had to dug around in the recorders office.  The deed in the county recorders office should show the size of parcels and owners have subdivision maps and other documents giving more history than a city would keep. All is public records and open to anyone. Still if the recorders office is not helpful..........................and as public servants we know they can be the opposite of helpful.

Stopped by the city library today, and found out this parcel of land was originally platted from ranch land, so was not in the city at the time. Will head up to the county clerks office tomorrow morning with the parcel # and hopefully get some information. Talked with an old feller at the library who has lived here most of his life, says years ago, everybody had a ‘water well’ with a lawn sprinkler system here in town.

Well everybody, had a chance to get at this project a few days ago. Pressurized the zone that borders the neighbors, and sure enough water came percolating up in my neighbor’s yard about 40 ft from the boundary. As this zone has heads in my yard, short of digging up those and capping them(temporarily) the water pressure was not great, but enough to see a 3” high water ‘guyser’. Not sure if it’s a broke off sprinkler head, or broken pipe? Have no idea on the total size or configuration on this zone. Will need permission to go on neighbor’s property to further diagnose. Not confident I will get it.

Edited by Lars(wi) - 25 Jan 2024 at 1:25pm

jaybmiller wrote: If you're supplying the water, dig up your last head inline with the neigbour's geyser. Cap it off,turn water back on, see what happens....

Unfortunately, its not ‘in line’, this is a 1.5” pvc that originates from a ‘4 way’, don’t know if this ‘old faithful’ is at the end of a line, or a ‘T’, or just one of many. I would imagine with it being on a 1.5” line, there would be more than one.

Gonna have to buy the neighbor on the other side of my immediate neighbor a six pack, and try and get his pseudo permission to go onto this parcel. He is the brother in law to one of the son’s of the elderly couple that own the property. He’s a thirsty bugger, he and his wife love their Bud Light.

DiyDave wrote: Wear a dress, when you bring the bud light over...

will have to venture to one of the ‘beer barns’ out of town, and pay cash so there’s no tracking my name!!

Edited by Lars(wi) - 25 Jan 2024 at 8:18pm

tadams(OH) wrote: Have you ever seen someone use the witch limbs to find water or underground pipes? If you or someone you know does this you should be able to find each line and where it runs.

I have not, yet. The biggest obstacle is the zone(s) that border my next door neighbor also feed an unknown number of sprinkler heads on that parcel. Due to the neighbor property originally part of the parcel we now own. Sometime in the 80’s the parcel we now own was subdivided. All the parties involved then, are either in nursing home, or passed away. I have the upmost respect of other peoples property, thus I will not tread onto their land without family permission, getting that permission has been a slow process.

Edited by Lars(wi) - 26 Jan 2024 at 1:07pm

Success!!, well kinda sorta. Last week back at it. Talked with the Son of the owners(who themselves are in a nursing home), he claims no water well that he ever saw while growing up in that house. He says I am welcome to ‘investigate’ and ‘root around’ on the property.
Discovered what I’m 90% sure is the origin of the water for the system; a 1.5” iron pipe running parallel to my property line about 5-6 ft over on my neighbors parcel. Standing on the property line, to the left(east ) it heads towards the street, to the right(west), continues to the neighbors back yard, where I unearthed a series of valves, backflow preventers, and piping. I can see where it originally supplied the zones that cover what is our property, and the direction of pipes to supply other zones for the neighbor.
Now the question is; what to do?
Have not searched for any valves, or water box near the curb(yet).
Will go to city hall this next week, and find out if they have maps of where the original water mains, and laterals were laid when these lots were developed pre-WWII.

Edited by Lars(wi) - 27 Apr 2024 at 11:33am