💧 Water Connection Achieved on Site!
We finally have a water connection on site—an essential and much-anticipated milestone for the project!
As mentioned in a previous post, our future neighbours have recently switched over to a borehole system and generously agreed to hand over their previous mains supply, which conveniently runs right past the entrance to the farmyard. This offer set the wheels in motion to get our own connection established.
🕵️♂️ The Hunt for the Right Meter
Our first challenge was locating the correct water meter. With a few candidates lurking around and no clear labels to guide us, the farmer stepped in to help with the process of elimination. After some investigative effort, we narrowed it down to a meter tucked beneath a hedge, situated in front of another neighbour’s house—talk about hide-and-seek.
Below is a satellite view of the area. The elusive water meter is marked in green, while the red line traces the new connection into our boundary. As you can see, spotting that meter tucked away in a hedge wasn’t exactly straightforward!
🎯 Trying to Trace the Pipe
Once we thought we had the right meter, the builders attempted to locate the underground pipe using a CAT and genny—a pipe and cable tracing system where the CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) detects buried services, and the genny (signal generator) sends a signal through the pipe or cable to help track its path. It’s often a go-to method for underground surveying.
Unfortunately, this time the tech didn’t pick up what we needed, so Plan B went into action.
⛏️ Trenching and Teamwork
With the direction of the pipe still a mystery, the builders began digging a trench to try and locate it manually. We had a rough idea of where it might run, but the longer the trench got, the more uncertain things became. Luckily, just as things were beginning to feel more like an archaeological dig, the farmer returned with sharper insights. Thanks to his intervention, the trench narrowed, and—success!—the pipe was found intact and ready for connection.
🚰 Temporary Tap Installed
With the pipe located, the builder swiftly installed a temporary standpipe and tap just within our boundary. This setup will serve as our interim water source until the pipe is officially extended to the house through a new trench.
It’s one of those not-so-glamorous but absolutely crucial behind-the-scenes moments that deserves its own spotlight. And we couldn’t have gotten there without a bit of detective work, some muddy boots, and a helping hand from the farm.
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