Use of Water Pipe as an Electric Ground: Joint Discussion

Abstract

In this joint discussion, Lee B. Hertzberg states that water utilities have been “drafted” by the electric industry to provide, through water piping systems, a part of the electric utility system consisting of the ground connections to water pipe. The article provides a brief overview of the three original assumptions used by the electric utilities to justify such usage, along with a review of AWWA policy on electrical grounding, and a discussion of the findings of the American Research Committee on Grounding, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors's (IAEI's) special committee on grounding, and many other committees and individuals who investigated the grounding problem all prove conclusively that the three original assumptions used as a basis for grounding electric equipment to water service piping are now largely false. The article discusses how changing technology, and the use of nonmetallic materials by the water utilities has made water systems useless for electric‐grounding purposes. In the second part of this joint discussion, Arthur G. Clark of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, provides a brief overview of what constitutes effective electric‐grounding. Clark disagrees with AWWA policy on grounding, but presents a good statement of the electrical inspection authority's viewpoint on the matter.