Leaking Pond Is Fixed!! Bury the valve?

[Awnry Abe]

My leaking pond is fixed!! It was a flowing stream since before I bought the place in 2010. I sort of noticed it this year a little more than the others.

The problem was a shut-off valve to the pump-house that had frozen and cracked. I was very fornunate that it the top portion of the valve, and not the pipe side. I was able to rob a top from a new valve and screw it in. Aside from slogging through mud, it was a very simple repair that I wish I had attempted earlier.

I want the valve permanantly in the OPEN position. There is yet another shutoff valve in the pumphouse, so this one is just another leak waiting to happen. I am tempted to just bury the thing instead of using an access pipe to make sure that it doesn't freeze again. But I think that may compromise the new valve over time as well. Should I bury it or just use some fill dirt around the stack to make sure it is below the frost line? It apparently is right on the hairy edge, now.

[Darren]

Depending on the type of valve, I would suggest installing a curb box that would allow access in the future and protect the valve from freezing.