Anyone ever "dowse" for water or pipes undeground?? You know, where you use a stick or a couple rods and they point to it? I did, and it flipped me out!

I was doing a renovation at work (aircraft ramp bldg), and the plans called for installation of new men's/women's restrooms...but the holdup was where was the sewer main located. If it was too far, it would cost too much to cut thru the 8" slab for any distance.

The foreman on the job took 2 pieces of 1/8" copper rod, bent L-shape, and had aluminum tube sleeves on the short part of the L. He held them with the small L in his hands and the long L (about 12") pointing straight out and horizontal. Then he slowly walked until the 2 rods began to move towards each other, finally crossing over one another as he passed the spot where the pipe was. I was freaked!!

He let me try it, and sure as shootin, they did the exact same thing in the exact same place! The hair on my neck was standin up as I watched them move!! Then we marked the location, cut the slab, and 3' down was the 8" main. I couldn't friggin believe it!

Another guy I worked with told me that's how he found where to drill his well, and the water flow is so good, it never ran dry during the post-drill test.

I used to think this stuff was just "ouiji board" crapola, but I'll tell you, it really works!!

I'd like to hear if anybody else experienced this stuff!!

 

Sounds like ouiji board crap.
Kidding, I've seen people do it....in my own yard. Didnt work out. It might have.....but he never walked over the water pipe......he started and ended his search no less than 20 feet from where they found the pipe...
yea, where I told em it was.

 

I talked to a guy in AZ about digging a well. They use a dowser and whatever the expert is called, kind of a second opinion.

 

Dowsee?

 

Ah....no, I believe he has a degree so you will think he knows what he is doing. What is that saying about an expert.....something about a drip under pressure.

 

maybe they were fooling with you. i work in excavation and i've never seen that. we usually have a pretty good idea of where something is before we go digging for it especially working at the airport

usually we take the cover off a manhole to see which way the lines are pointing and how deep they are. sometimes a guy goes down with a flashlight to get a better look.

last thing you want to do is damage the main or hit some other utility like a gas or water main so knowing where it is is very important.

if you don't have a plan there are clues to look for

look at the air vents for a buidling's sewage system... mine go straight up out of the sewage drains. or go downstairs to see where the water and sewage lines go

if you can't there's a valve in the line to shut the flow of water to your house. its sticking out your lawn or driveway somewhere. so is the gas meter. lots of this stuff gets laid in the same trench

 

I thought the guy was full of crap when he started dowsing, but then when I did it and they marked the exact same place, I said "holy sh.."! He used copper rods and aluminum sleeves, both non-magnetic of course, and with the rods inside the sleeves, there was no way you could twist 'em to fool somebody. Verrrry interrrresting.

Anyhow, I'm not trying to convince anybody, I was just wondering if anybody else experienced this...

 

I've seen it with underground phone cables a long time ago

 

I've used the technique for years to find pipes and wires. It works great. By walking slowly, I can generally find a pipe to about +/- 10 inches or so. I now have a good use for old coat hangers .

 

I operated Dozers, backhoes, trenchers,hydrolic excavators for over 20 years.

When some guy pulls out the wires, I just get back into the truck and turn on the radio because I know it is going to be a long, long day starting out with a nut like that. Yea the wires crossed.....big deal....

I personally have never seen it happen....but I have dug "Right Here" and it was 50 ft away many times.....but then again I got paid by the hour so who am I to complain. If you want me to dig .....Cha Ching....I can handle the money.