Water/Electric lines in same trench?

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Can we put electrical lines in the same trench as a water line? Is this covered in the NEC or and IL electrical codes? If so please advise where. Thanks!!!
 
I agree with Trevor.

We have 480V buss duct installed in same trenches as water lines. We do on occasion provide a fire works display when we get a serious leak in water lines.
 
You had best check with the water and electric utilities. They will have their own rules.
 
charlie b said:
You had best check with the water and electric utilities. They will have their own rules.


This may be true. Simply because the NEC says that it is permissible doesn't mean that someone other authority might accept them together in the same trench. Some utilities require separation in case they need to dig their underground installation up.
 
Who said anything about this being a service? When does the POCO have any say over anything on private property after the service disconnect?
 
dlhoule said:
Who said anything about this being a service? When does the POCO have any say over anything on private property after the service disconnect?


No one did. But the OP did not specify if this were utility supplied line or a customer supplied line. The responses answered the question either way.
 
No one did. But the OP did not specify if this were utility supplied line or a customer supplied line. The responses answered the question either way.

See there you go again, bringing reason into the discussion.:)
 
B.G.& E. Baltimore Md.
Baltimore's natural gas and electric utility company use the single trench systems. I have seen a gas line run under a transformer pad in order for the gas line to hit the trench with the single conductors.
 
Up here in our little mountain town we (contractors, AHJs & utilities) have agreed to maintain a 12" separation of all cables, pipes & conduits. This can be either vertically or horizontally. The purpose is to facilitate maintenance and repairs of one system without affecting the others.

Bob on the left coast
 
water/electric

water/electric

the utility companies here request any electric line be buried deeper than water if they are in the same trench. the thinking being the eletrician digging for a power line and hitting water is less dangerous than the plumber hitting electric
 
We are required to dig the trench for some of the POCOs in this area. Mainly Xcel Energy. The trench has to be 59" deep and usually 18" wide. Alot of the times we install the telephone and cable conduits at 36". I have never really installed water and gas lines in the same trench but don't see how it would matter if the trnech was 18" to 24" wide.
 
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