What are the downsides of bonding the water meter in a residential setting? All metal piping from house to meter and meter to street. Meter is more than 10 feet from water pipe entering house. House has a single grounding electrode connected to main panel. House plumbing is grounded to panel.
Water meter bonding problem?
- Thread starter MikeMc
- Start date
- Status
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I don't understand your question, but I will offer this generic answer. There is never a downside to bonding anything metallic. There is not always a benefit, however.
Jumping meter
Jumping meter
I meant jumping the meter so that current could flow, in theory, across a greater surface to ground. My concern is that the flow could go the other way, say from a nearby residence. My other concern is that there have been a few posts that warn of the electrocution hazard at the water meter!
Jumping meter
I meant jumping the meter so that current could flow, in theory, across a greater surface to ground. My concern is that the flow could go the other way, say from a nearby residence. My other concern is that there have been a few posts that warn of the electrocution hazard at the water meter!
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Yes, the curent will flow from a neighboring residence thru the bonded water line and back to the utility at all the other residences in the neighborhood. That is the disadvantage of having a common metallic water line shared by numerous buildings. It is a parallel path for neutral current.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Around here the meter is on the public ROW so bonding is not required. The american water works assn does not like grounding of metallic water lines but we have to bond by NEC. Best solution is 10 ft of metal pipe to meet 250.52(1)(A) and then a plastic spacer to isolate pipe electrically. One meter reader a day gets shocked in the US from current on metal water pipes at meters.
- Status