Water pipelines move potable water, waste water and reclaimed water across distances. Different types of water and different regions necessitate different types of water pipeline installation, but every water pipeline construction project involves three basic facets: planning, permitting and building.

This guide walks you through each of the three steps of a water pipeline installation. As you design your water pipelines project--first on your own and later with the help of outside companies--you'll see that each step in your water pipeline construction project builds on the prior step.

1. How should you lay out your water pipeline system?

2. What technical information should you add to your water pipelines design?

3. What water pipelines companies can build your project?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Design your water pipeline system

In this early stage, you shouldn't worry about creating a highly-technical design for your water pipeline construction project. Instead, focus on the miles covered by your water pipelines, services provided by them (like water delivery, effluent removal or reclaimed water delivery), and how many homes and businesses the water pipelines will service.

I recommend: Technical Toolboxes sells software to help you design your water pipeline project. You can find case studies of different water pipeline systems at the pipeline consultant, GEI Consultants.

Find a pipeline consulting company to review and enhance your design

Pipeline engineering has different permit requirements in different areas of the country, and a local pipeline consulting company can help you navigate those rules. These pipeline consultants will engineer your water pipeline system, taking into account the total water pipeline cost as well as other details like water pipeline pressure.

I recommend: Look at companies like Mindel, Scott, & Associates to engineer your design. Companies like Ruekert & Mielke have case studies on their website, so spend time looking at those case studies to see if the pipeline consultant you're considering has experience working with a project similar in scope to yours.

Research water pipeline contractors to install the water pipelines

Here's where you choose a water pipeline company that can handle all phases of the construction process from permits to the final water pipeline inspection. Remember to look at water pipeline companies that have offices near your water pipeline project.

I recommend: Find a list of water pipeline construction companies at The Environmental Yellow Pages, or look at multiple companies at IDS Water. Think of these companies as starting points in your search for a water pipeline contractor.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find an established water pipelines project similar in scope to yours and ask the managing utility for their opinion of the project's quality. Speak with the engineers at the utility that maintains the water pipeline system and ask them about the system's weak points so you can ask your water pipeline contractors (the consultants, engineers and the construction companies) how they intend to strengthen those weaknesses on your project.