Water, Sewer & Dry Utilities

Wet utilities

• Water — sized for domestic demand and fire flow (hydrants). May require looping and specific pressures.
• Sanitary sewer — usually gravity flow to a main; if the site is too low, you need a pump/lift station (added cost and maintenance).

Dry utilities

• Electric, gas, telecom/fiber — coordinated with the utility companies; often installed in shared trenches.

Key considerations

• Capacity & connection points — is there enough capacity at the main, and how far away is it?
• Offsite extensions — bringing utilities a long way to the site can be a major, sometimes deal-breaking, cost.
• Easements — utilities need easements; plan them so they don't sterilize buildable land.

Going Deeper (Intermediate)

Two utility families to design: wet utilities (water, sanitary sewer) and dry utilities (electric, gas, telecom). Every lot must be served, connected to mains, and meet capacity and code.

Advanced / Pro-Level

The cost and coordination drivers:

• Gravity sewer (designed slopes, depths, manholes) is cheapest — but if topography won't allow gravity you need a lift station and force main (expensive to build and operate).
• Water design must meet fire flow / hydrant and pressure-zone requirements (looping).
• Off-site main extensions, capacity, and connection/impact fees can be major costs; oversizing for future phases may earn reimbursement agreements.
• Dry utilities share a joint trench and require provider coordination (long lead). Utilities are a top horizontal cost and a long-lead scheduling item.

Practice Challenge

A site sits lower than the sewer main it must connect to. What does that force, and why does it matter to the budget? (Answer: gravity won't work, so you need a lift station and force main to pump sewage uphill — a significant capital and ongoing maintenance cost (vs. cheap gravity sewer); topography vs. the main's elevation is a key feasibility/cost factor.)

In Practice

A low site needs a sewer lift station nobody budgeted — added cost and maintenance forever. Confirm gravity-sewer feasibility early.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not confirming gravity sewer vs. a lift station
• Ignoring offsite utility extension costs
• Forgetting utility easements

Takeaway: Check capacity and connection distance — long utility extensions can break a deal.

Educational content — not legal, engineering, or financial advice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; always confirm with the local authority and your professional team.