Plugging up a water pipe?

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This is in a parking lot.  The attached picture can probably explain it better than I can.  The water supply device sits about 12 inches above the surface of the parking lot.  The water line is a 3 inch pipe that comes up vertically from under the lot.  There is also a tree stump/roots next to the water supply that is making it difficult to dig down. I plan to turn off the water supply at the meter, then use an angle grinder to cut the pipe a few inches below the surface of the parking lot.  Then I want to put some sort of cap on it.  I'm not sure what sort material the water pipe is made from.  In the past, I tried brazing a patch on a sewer pipe, but the braze material didn't stick to the pipe.  How would I plug the water line?  I have an O/A rig, and a battery powered portable flux core wire feed welder.  There is no 220 available.  HH187Harris O/AInfrared thermometerHalf a dozen angle grinders
Reply:Might be easier to either dig down to the 90, unscrew it and plug the 90, or if it's too deep just cut it and thread it for a cap.When you say 3" are you talking ID?What about covering it with a speed bump?Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:As one who has done a lot of digging over the years, including that of deep tunnels when I was a kid, I see no major obstruction in the way of excavating around the pipe. You may not be up to it, but surely you know someone with a teenager who could? Start on the easiest side, going back far enough from the pipe to have room to work, and after the hole is deep enough, then pick away at the areas near the pipe where it needs more room.Sewer pipe is cast iron and can be hard to clean and/or heat enough with a small torch to braze well. This appears to be steel with threaded fittings and the suggestion above about unscrewing it at the 90* bend is probably the best solution for you. Do you have a wrench large enough for that?If, from a distance I saw that sticking up in a parking lot, I'd think it had been a support and power supply for an electrical light pole.
Reply:Is that some kind of frost proof hydrant? If so there will be a rod running down the center of the pipe that actuates the actual valve. Having grown up in Ks I say that the 90 or whatever it screwed into will be nearly 3 feet down and you'll have to get to it to do anything about it. If it's not a freeze proof hydrant how did it last this long?Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:I'm inclined to believe that this is not a water line, but an electrical conduit for something that has been removed.  The top appears to have a hinged lid indicative of an electrical box of some sort, but hard to tell for sure from the picture.Also, the frost line in Kansas should be about the same as Illinois; near 3 feet.  If that was a water pipe that close to the surface it would have frozen and likely burst in previous winters.  That leads to one of two probabilities.  It is an abandoned water pipe with no likely need to plug the end or you have electrical conduit with the possibility of it containing wires that may have potentially lethal voltages.  If live wires are a possibility, approach this job with extreme care!   This might be a good time to make a call to an electrical contractor to make a final determination.  If this is a water pipe full of water and you cut it with a reciprocating saw you get wet.  If it's conduit with live wires and you cut it, you DIE.Be careful, Bob."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:In the above picture there are 3 things in the rectangular box of the plumbing fitting.  The square thing in the center is some sort of key (like for a gas fireplace) to turn on the water.  The threaded fitting on the right is for a standard garden hose to screw onto.  The thing on the left...I'm not sure.  I don't think it goes to anything.Here is a picture of the top of the hinged lid.  It says "WATER".After reading the above posts, I'm inclined to believe it's some sort of frost proof water outlet.  The actual valve that shuts off the water supply would be several feet underground.  Notice that the square plug in the middle of the box is directly centered over the pipe, If it is some sort of frost proof fawcet, could I just cut everything off a few inches below the asphalt, put a 1/4 inch plat on top of it, then cover it with gravel?HH187Harris O/AInfrared thermometerHalf a dozen angle grinders
Reply:Looks to be a water shut off!  Are there any names that you could use to do an internet search for a particular product?  More than likely as was said, a frost proof valve.  Should be a long stem from the top to the valve body down below the frost line.  "Should" (meaning maybe) be able to cut and patch as you said.  Might want to go down about a foot below grade and be prepared for possible surprises!  Good luck!"The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:It is a water shut off valve, no doubt. Question is, since this is just the shut off valve, where does the water line that this valve shuts off come from and go to? Is it in service?That square stem in the center of the box is where the wrench goes on to turn the valve. As the others have said, there is a stem that goes all the way down the center of the pipe to the valve gate, plug or poppet itself. I wouldn't cut this pipe off.Have you talked to the local water utility company about this?JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Good idea snoeproe!  This could be a corporation stop or maybe an old sprinkler setup.  Better do some research and be sure."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:only in kansas would someone put a water shut off in the middle of a parkin lot above ground level.......
Reply:Do you know who owns it?If it is the water company, it would be best to call them. They are usually willing to help. It could likely be adjusted to grade and paved flush in the lot.  Could be handy...If it is customer owned, and tapped off the service, I'd suggest digging it up till you find the method of attachment to the service, and then decide how to remove it. The method probably will not involve welding, rather plumbing. Unthread it and install a plug, or possibly a saddle clamp of some type. Cutting it off and covering the stand pipe could result in a future leak being unnoticed and causing lots of damage and expense.
Reply:Long story short, a buddy that owns a construction company were digging on my lease for gravel, it was like gold because of a project, we could see where the gas company entered the lease and left, so duh, we know where the line is, it was a straight line, we were way off, yip, we hit the gas line, it knocked a cigarette out of my buddies mouth with natural gas, seems they did not stick to the straight line, decided to divert from straight? cost us $3900.00, damage was low, could have been worse.If you have to ask your in over your head.Your a welder not a digger, have them dig it out.Get that straight.Call ahead, and verify the services, then weld it.