Leaking Mains Water Supply Responsibility
Discussion
We had a water meter fitted about a month ago and on checking it last week I noticed that the dial was going round even though we had no water running. Severn Trent came out over the weekend and have confirmed that it looks like there is a leak between the main stopcock and the internal house stopcock. They are going to have to send out a trace team but our house stop cock is approximately 25m away from the boundary of our property and I've got a horrible feeling that the pipework is going to run under our neighbours block paved driveway!
Had a search online but everything I can see shows the mains stopcock as being on the property boundary so I'm no clearer as to whose responsibility the pipework would actually be. ie am I responsible for everything after the main stopcock or just that part that lies within my boundary
Thanks
Had a search online but everything I can see shows the mains stopcock as being on the property boundary so I'm no clearer as to whose responsibility the pipework would actually be. ie am I responsible for everything after the main stopcock or just that part that lies within my boundary
Thanks
Is the meter also 25m from your boundary?
Although I'm wwith a different regional water company ours fixes the first leak free as a gesture of goodwill.
You potentially are saving THEM money by finding this leak.if you hadn't had a meter fitted who knows how long water will have been pissing away.
Although I'm wwith a different regional water company ours fixes the first leak free as a gesture of goodwill.
You potentially are saving THEM money by finding this leak.if you hadn't had a meter fitted who knows how long water will have been pissing away.
Hi, yes it's a combined meter\stopcock so both 25m away. The property was split into two years ago, our house being the original and a newer house built next door. Our stopcock is outside the neighbours and they have their own stopcock in the same grass verge but 10m closer to us!
I've heard that some water authorities will do a goodwill repair but doubt this would apply if it means digging up and relaying the neighbours block paving!
I've heard that some water authorities will do a goodwill repair but doubt this would apply if it means digging up and relaying the neighbours block paving!
The water company are responsible for everything up to and including the connection out of the water meter. If they leak is with the outlet connection then they should fix it FOC. After that it is your responsibility, but that does mean you don't have to pay the prices they will charge, any general builder/ground worker can do it. You can do it yourself if you want.
Law changed recently (?October 2014) - supply from the meter up to your internal stopcock (oooer musses etc.) is now the supplier's responsibility.
If they can't find the leak on your property quickly, they will just mole a new pipe from the meter to your house.
If you're lucky they'll cock this up and hit the gas supply pipe (as they did with mine a few years ago) and stick chewing gum over the hole until the extraordinarily well paid emergency gas repair on call geezer turns up to anneal a new section.
Mucho fun.
Pipe still leaks though.
If they can't find the leak on your property quickly, they will just mole a new pipe from the meter to your house.
If you're lucky they'll cock this up and hit the gas supply pipe (as they did with mine a few years ago) and stick chewing gum over the hole until the extraordinarily well paid emergency gas repair on call geezer turns up to anneal a new section.
Mucho fun.
Pipe still leaks though.
Good luck. Many years ago according to the water board we had a massive leak on our property and they dug up the garden losing lots of trees to expose the pipe. Turned out it was NOT on our property at all and false reading was caused by two pipes crossing each other. So watch the buggers.
Fortunately we put in a claim and managed to get it all refunded plus extra to make good.
Fortunately we put in a claim and managed to get it all refunded plus extra to make good.
rfisher said:
Law changed recently (?October 2014) - supply from the meter up to your internal stopcock (oooer musses etc.) is now the supplier's responsibility.
If they can't find the leak on your property quickly, they will just mole a new pipe from the meter to your house.
If you're lucky they'll cock this up and hit the gas supply pipe (as they did with mine a few years ago) and stick chewing gum over the hole until the extraordinarily well paid emergency gas repair on call geezer turns up to anneal a new section.
Mucho fun.
Pipe still leaks though.
Any info to support this one? United Utilities still say anything from the meter onwards is the householders responsibility. Having had a few leaks I would love them to replace the lot up to the stopcock.If they can't find the leak on your property quickly, they will just mole a new pipe from the meter to your house.
If you're lucky they'll cock this up and hit the gas supply pipe (as they did with mine a few years ago) and stick chewing gum over the hole until the extraordinarily well paid emergency gas repair on call geezer turns up to anneal a new section.
Mucho fun.
Pipe still leaks though.
How can it be your responsibility if the pipework is not even on your property? If thats the case they could put the meter back at their depot and then say the ten mile pipe to your isolated property was all your problem. I would tell them its your problem once it goes under your fence.
Z4monster said:
rfisher said:
Law changed recently (?October 2014)
Any info to support this one? I used to own a house that for some reason.....
The mains water came into the bathroom....
...The pipe came from the bathroom to the outside wall in the driveway...
... a stopcock was there....
... and a pipe back into the bathroom....
When sorting out this whole mess..... I found out I also had a leak from the mains pipe..
The mains pipe ( under ground ) - was connected to a garden hose pipe ( the only water pipe going into the house.... a bloody hoselock job buried under concrete ) - that fed the property.
Needless to say - the house was riddled with bloody botched jobs.
Ended up gutting things back to all four walls to find all the wonderful surprises that needed fixing.
I blame that Handy Andy, and cheap DIY programmes popular in the early 90's.
The mains water came into the bathroom....
...The pipe came from the bathroom to the outside wall in the driveway...
... a stopcock was there....
... and a pipe back into the bathroom....
When sorting out this whole mess..... I found out I also had a leak from the mains pipe..
The mains pipe ( under ground ) - was connected to a garden hose pipe ( the only water pipe going into the house.... a bloody hoselock job buried under concrete ) - that fed the property.
Needless to say - the house was riddled with bloody botched jobs.
Ended up gutting things back to all four walls to find all the wonderful surprises that needed fixing.
I blame that Handy Andy, and cheap DIY programmes popular in the early 90's.
Edited by Troubleatmill on Monday 27th April 21:51
Z4monster said:
Thanks for that. I still can't see the section which says the water authority now has responsibility for all existing supply pipes up to the internal stopcock. That would be a massive on cost to them. Maybe for new builds it might apply?
Hidden in here;http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/part/I...
Essentially amendments to the existing Water Act of 1991 which mean that, once your water supplier has repaired your supply pipe, that section of pipe is their responsibility. So the trick is to get them to do an initial repair, which most, if not all, will now do for free.
Also they will reimburse any overcharging for water due to a supply pipe leak.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff