What? Forget tripping hazards (unless it crosses a sidewalk or common pathway) and explosion damage. lol
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Probably true. But I do believe PVC is allowed to be used for potable water supply lines. Just can’t be used for distribution inside the home.
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Why would there be an explosion? Maybe a geyser, but that’s hardly an explosion.
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You can also notify your customer that the “apparent repair” must have approved documentation.
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PVC is OK from what I can ascertain, but only as cold supply, not distribution. My question is, when does it become distribution if it is feeding 8-12 units? Once inside?
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All very useful! Thank you!!!
That’s my understanding. Think of it like electrical. You have service entrance and then distribution.
I’m no plumber though.
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LOL, i can see how explosion sounds silly. I meant sharpnel upon rupture, but it sounds like that is the least of my worries
In reality, it is not the end of the world. The pipe may be subject to settlement, stress and mechanical damage. And because it was obviously not done by a professional, there is probably a handful of other code violations that could be discovered by a qualified person, which I am not.
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I would just like to add, for future readers of this thread, that one of the primary reasons water pipes are buried is to protect them from freezing in winter. Generally, the minimum is around two feet underground. However, it can be deeper based upon the local frost line depth. That is not a big concern in Hawaii, but most of the mainland have to contend with freezing temperatures.
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I think they are on top of the ground to keep them from getting hot from volcanic activity.
Hay, that’s as good as a trip hazard or not allowed for water distribution. 
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Looks like a temporary solution…Water supply pipes need to be buried 12 inches below grade and 6 inches below the frost line R 2603.5 Also pvc will degrade in sunlight eventually. I have found from digging my own trenches that the roots of most trees typically stay above the 12 inch deep mark. So if you get lazy and don’t go at least 12 inches there is a higher chance a root will envelope or break the pipe or electrical wire over time. Which is probably what happened here.
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What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I think David is closer to the truth than he may realize.
Hawaii is basically Volcanic ROCK. Volcanic rock is very sharp. Water piping moves when water flows and will rub and get punctured from the rock. (The reason we have sand beds on the mainland).
My WAG is that there is a thin layer of topsoil in the OPs area, thus the lack of burial depth.
Now that 4+ months have passed, I would have to assume the OP has some answers. Question is, will he return and share them with us?
PVC should be painted or buried as prolonged exposure to sunlight can deteriorate the material over time.
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Turns out the code is ambiguous about building your house on a volcano…who knew?..But shouldn’t the pvc pipe be protected against molten LAVA…
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