SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

I would say 99% of the systems I service are done the exact way you are describing. That is because 99% of the water meters are installed in the basement.

You have the best of both worlds. You can dig a large hole for your tap or tap the system out of your basement. By taping in right after your meter in the yard you save yourself the pressure loss associated with taping out of your basement. In most cases this is not an issue.

With a 5/8 meter and 3/4 copper service line I would design the zones for a maximum of 10 gpm. How is your pressure? 70 psi is the most I would use. If its higher you will also need to install a pressure reducing valve. By keeping your pressure in check (if its high) and designing your zones at 10gpm (thus keeping water velocity low) you will greatly reduce water hammer.

99% in the place where you might live, but here in the South, water meters are at the street where kgr describes.

Here's the problems I see with your plan.

#1. 40' of 1" copper pipe in the basement is going to be expensive (you can't use PVC indoors).

#2. You're going to have to restrict your flow as Tom stated because of the 3/4" line you think you have from the meter to the basement.

If you insist on doing it this way, you might as well use the 3/4" copper in the basement since you're already going to have to design based on that supply size. And Since you're talking about running this 40' of pipe, it sounds like you've got a pressure regulator that you are trying to make sure you are tying into, so pressure drop through the 3/4" copper shouldn't be a big issue. Either that or you might as well save the 40' of copper and just tie into what ever 3/4" copper pipe is closes to your basement exit point.

#3. You'll get more noise in the house (you will hear the water running when ever the irrigation system is on, possibly a bad thing if you want to water at 5 in the morning before you wake up).

#4. When the irrigation system is "on", it will have a bigger impact on water availablility in the house. This could also exceed the capacity of the 3/4" line when irrigation is running and someone is taking a shower and the washing machine/dishwasher are all running at the same time.

When I finally just decided to bit the bullet and dig next to the meter, I was plesantly suprized to find that I've got a 1" PVC line running from the meter to the basement. The line swaps over to 3/4" copper somewhere just before entering the basement.

So by tying into the 1" line, I didn't have to restrict my design to the 3/4" copper tubing. Additionally, since a 1" can handle the equivilent of two 3/4" lines, I was able to design my irrigation system to be equal to maxing out a 3/4" supply line without effecting water to the house (i.e. the house is designed for a 3/4" supply line, the irrigation is designed for a 3/4" supply line, and the two are fed from a 1" supply line that can hanle both).