I really don't know, I think I could still reach the top of the trench while hooking it up. This one is fully exposed to north wind and only gets sun mid day. Took 300' of pipe to get to it from the valve below the pond. How far out of the ground is his? That's a big deal on these just like lowering the ball and for some reason installers don't think cattle can reach the ground. I replace dirt around this one every year because of erosion.