Bonding water in a residence?

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Knuckle Dragger

Knuckle Dragger

Master Electrician Electrical Contractor 01752
Location
Marlborough, Massachusetts USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I had a rough electrical inspection yesterday.
200 amp 120/240v underground with two ground rods.(typical)
The inspector had one issue with it.
He told me I had to bond the WATER in the house.
The water service consists of a pex water main from the street to inside the dwelling to about 24" of copper to support the water meter back to pex through out the dwelling.

I had never heard of this for a dwelling ask if it's in the NEC ( he said yes) and asked what wire size which he couldn't answer definitively.

I read through NEC 250.104 (A). & (B) and couldn't find anything to support what he wants me to do.
I don't believe the inspector is correct and I have no problem if he is correct. I just want to do the right thing.
I would appreciate your input to find out the facts.
Thank you!
 
If not part of, or usable as, GE System, then only bonding requirements would be related to "likely to become energized". That can become loosely defined by some. Clarify with inspector his meaning of failure as your description seems to preclude use as a GE. If "likely to become energized" is the case then sizing would be related to the source potentially energizing the pipe.
 
I agree with Action Dave.
But even still ...
The water is bonded through the equipment ground on your water tank. Even a gas water heaters 120v igniter will be connected to the metal water tank.

Or I know, tell the inspector the plumber has to install the device then you'll bond to it. LOL 1650721156496.png
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
I had a rough electrical inspection yesterday.
200 amp 120/240v underground with two ground rods.(typical)
The inspector had one issue with it.
He told me I had to bond the WATER in the house.
The water service consists of a pex water main from the street to inside the dwelling to about 24" of copper to support the water meter back to pex through out the dwelling.

I had never heard of this for a dwelling ask if it's in the NEC ( he said yes) and asked what wire size which he couldn't answer definitively.

I read through NEC 250.104 (A). & (B) and couldn't find anything to support what he wants me to do.
I don't believe the inspector is correct and I have no problem if he is correct. I just want to do the right thing.
I would appreciate your input to find out the facts.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
So ask how he can enforce something he can't produce the rules for.

If you happen run the "wrong size" somehow he will come up with a size you should have run. At very least I would be telling him I'm not playing such games, I want to get it done right the first time so you better be able to produce something that tells what is the correct way before I am changing anything. On top of that I may be mentioning sections I am aware of that help confirm what is presently done is acceptable. 250.52 mentions metal underground water pipe to be used as an electrode if present, apparently this is not present in OP's case. 250.104 mentions bonding of metal water piping systems. I expect inspector to at least be able to reference 250.104 for a start on telling me as well as determining for himself what is or is not required. If he can't produce that how is he to know what the rules are here?
 
Official correction notice states: Must bond the water. I don't know where, how or what size conductor to accept, but I just know it needs to be done.
 
If he couldn't even tell you what size bonding conductor to use it likely that he doesn't have a clue and that he made up his own code section. :rolleyes:
 
I'll reach out to him later this week.
To find out where he acquired he info to help me understand where he's coming from.
Maybe it a local Towny rule??

I'll keep you in the loop.
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
I'll reach out to him later this week.
To find out where he acquired he info to help me understand where he's coming from.
Maybe it a local Towny rule??

I'll keep you in the loop.
Click to expand...
Should be able to produce the language of local town rule along with associated statute information if such thing exists.
 
Uh - if the water pipe is plastic throughout its entire run underground, then it's an insulator and there is nothing to ground to. That short piece of copper to transition from the plastic to the threads on the meter and back to plastic may be the only place, but I agree with the other replies. And if the house is made of wood, there's probably no structural steel either.
 
Bonding is only required for a metallic water piping system. Isolated sections of metal pipe are not likely to be energized.
 
tom baker said:
Bonding is only required for a metallic water piping system. Isolated sections of metal pipe are not likely to be energized.
Click to expand...
That's what I told him.
He said the water needed to be bonded.
I told him I know for swimming pools but never heard of it for domestic water in a dwelling.

I ran a #8 bond wire from the main to the piece of copper (not attached) at the request of the home owner's who is also the GC on the job. They just want to keep the job moving forward.
It probably cost them an additional $500.00.

I told them I'm doing this at your request and under protest until I find out where this inspector's is coming from
 
Water for potable use in residential bonding? Metal pipe yes, but water bond? Your domestic water heater and even pump would already be bonded via EGC, and as close as you get. Only water bond I'm aware of is that for a pool. How would you bond domestic potable water?
Demand code reference.
If it needs bonding they better start making ground fitting for all these fittings too.

1650821627680.png
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
That's what I told him.
He said the water needed to be bonded.
I told him I know for swimming pools but never heard of it for domestic water in a dwelling.

I ran a #8 bond wire from the main to the piece of copper (not attached) at the request of the home owner's who is also the GC on the job. They just want to keep the job moving forward.
It probably cost them an additional $500.00.

I told them I'm doing this at your request and under protest until I find out where this inspector's is coming from
Click to expand...
Right back to what code section are you going to cite if you wrote up an official correction notice?

Only place where water is required to be bonded is in art 680 applications Art 250 only mentions metallic piping systems or sections likely to become energized.
 
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