Metallics DT6WL 6 x 1000' Detectable - Water L

Yes. The DT6WL is the water line version of the Metallics detectable tape line, so it is the roll to lay over buried potable or service water piping. If you are marking buried electrical, gas, sewer or communications runs, you need the corresponding tape for that utility rather than this one, since the legend and color coding are specific to water.

Detectable tape carries a metallic core so a standard inductive or conductive pipe and cable locator can trace it from the surface after the trench is closed. That is what separates it from plain non-detectable marking tape, and it is why crews use it over non-metallic water pipe, PVC or PE, which a locator cannot find on its own.

Lay the 6 inch tape flat in the trench, centered over the pipe, during backfill rather than at the top of grade, so an excavator reaches it before the pipe. Depth is set by your local utility or jurisdictional requirement. Overlap roll ends by a foot or so to keep the metallic path continuous for locating, and keep the printed face up.

Order Metallics part number DT6WL. That one number covers the 6 inch by 1000 foot detectable water line roll, and it is the only configuration offered under it, so there is no width, length or color suffix to specify.

Both widths do the same job electrically, but the wider 6 inch tape of the DT6WL gives a larger visual target for an excavator bucket and is what many specs call for over mains and larger services. Narrower tape is generally used on small-diameter service laterals. Check the width called out on your drawing or by the utility before substituting.