Water Meter/Pressure question

[timberjack]

Not sure about the meter but I can find out.

[Bully]

You will start out with a certain pressure at the street, which you cannot change. Going into a 3/4" meter will be a pressure loss. Coming out of the meter and going back up to a 1" or larger will also be a pressure loss, but not nearly as big as the pressure loss you will get from friction in the smaller pipe.

In the fluids world, pressure losses from fittings, elbows, bushings, etc. are called minor losses.
Pressure losses from pipe friction is called a major loss.

I would go with the bigger pipe, even if you meter is only 3/4".

[mfalkner]

Matt, Bully has it. The little bit of loss from a 3/4 meter doesn't factor in enough to notice until you get huge flows. If you are running a sprinkler system AND a house off one 3/4 meter you'll have problems, but either/or should be OK. Run the bigger pipe to the house then neck down to your plumbing. And, as has been mentioned, if you branch off hose bibs before you start the house plumbing those will have excellent pressure/volume. Do you know what static pressure you have at the street, and are you going up or down hill a lot?

You can always use enough water to create a problem. We did a system upgrade for a rural water system in Prentiss County and a guy called complaining about the pressure at his deer camp; said if he was in the shower his wife's bidet wouldn't work...... I just didn't have an answer for that one. He had 50 psi at his meter but ran 1/4 mile of 1", uphill.

[landscaper]

Matt, Bully has it. The little bit of loss from a 3/4 meter doesn't factor in enough to notice until you get huge flows. If you are running a sprinkler system AND a house off one 3/4 meter you'll have problems, but either/or should be OK. Run the bigger pipe to the house then neck down to your plumbing. And, as has been mentioned, if you branch off hose bibs before you start the house plumbing those will have excellent pressure/volume. Do you know what static pressure you have at the street, and are you going up or down hill a lot?

You can always use enough water to create a problem. We did a system upgrade for a rural water system in Prentiss County and a guy called complaining about the pressure at his deer camp; said if he was in the shower his wife's bidet wouldn't work...... I just didn't have an answer for that one. He had 50 psi at his meter but ran 1/4 mile of 1", uphill.

I'm probably on that water system. Won't be using any bidets though!! The line will run relatively flat until it goes under a creek just before it gets to the house. Hadn't thought about that climb out of the creek being a problem. Really don't want to suspend the pipe from my bridge, but I guess I could do that to eliminate that problem.

[brandon327]

I would say that meter will cause more of a GPM problem than pressure. The larger pipe should help with that as it will act as a tank. Some fluid experts correct me if i am wrong.

[mfalkner]

The creek crossing dip won't be a problem, it's your beginning and ending points. PM me where you are, I may know a little more about it. If you do cross the bridge, put your pipe inside a casing to help keep it from freezing.

[Yazoo Duckman]

As has been mentioned, it's the starting and ending points that make the difference. If the house is 10 feet below the water meter and you use a larger pipe, the pressure will be fine. The water meter should not be a problem for pressure loss. If you want a larger meter, they are definitely available. Most rural water systems don't keep them in stock and will only supply what they have. Go to a supply shop and buy your own and get them to set it. They are going to charge you for the meter and tap fee either way. If you want an irrigation system, I'd suggest a separate tap, especially if your usage is more than normal. That far off the road is not uncommon by any means. It's all about usage though. Some people will use an inline booster pump if their pressure is that bad. Plenty of ways around these problems, just involves money.

[landscaper]

Yeah, saving the booster pump for the last resort. I really don't want to have to maintain one of those things if I can help it, but if I get that much line run and don't like my pressure, that is what I'll probably wind up doing. I finally got the manager of the water system to say he would find me a 1" meter. Maybe that will be the answer to the pressure question.

[Blazer406]

Ditto on the friction loss. The 3/4" meter I'm sure flows plenty for a residence...... the drinking straw sized waterline if it is very long will make pressure drop @ the house terrible as flow goes up (more water use points being used simultaneously) IMHO.... don't skimp on the size pipe to the house... and don't worry too much about the meter size.

My house (which I didn't build) is a good example. The meter is probably 450 - 500 ft from the house. I'm convinced they ran a very small water line to the house. If my wife is filling the swimming pool sized jacuzzi bath, it takes 3 times as long for me to even get water from the door of the fridge.... flush a commode at the same time..... it is pathetic how little flow is coming out. I'm scared to put a pressure gage on it that I can see while she fills the tub.... because it would likely just piss me off to know how much the pressure drops.

It's bad enough I have contemplated running a new (larger) water line from the meter.....