Water main depth in MA

[Shippey]

I've been having an issue with my crawlspace flooding, so I began to dig out a French drain. While digging the trench I dug up my water main.

My question would be why is my water main so shallow? (approx 8" deep)

The main is covered in foam insulation and inside an additional PVC pipe.

Last Winter was extremely cold and the fact that my main didn't freeze seems like a miracle.

Has anyone ever seen this set up before?

 

[Shippey]

If it helps the water main is 8" deep for only about 16 feet....the rest is deep under ground

 

[journeyman]

It is shallower closer to the house but the rest of line should be below the permafrost line. I know in seattle the minimum depth for plumbing is 5 feet

 

[Shippey]

The grade is roughly 4 feet higher when it gets about 16 feet from the house

 

[Shippey]

I would assume the foam and PVC is to add some R value