Water test kits
Discussion
While digging the foundations for an extension I have uncovered a lead pipe which I believe is the mains water to the house. I can't be sure it is the supply as there's a mess of popes around and very little known about what's underneath.
I'm thinking of replacing it because it would be relatively easy now and extremely difficult after I build over it. However it seems worth testing the water first as it might well not be an issue.
Anyone got any experience of these kits? Which ones would people recommend?
I'm thinking of replacing it because it would be relatively easy now and extremely difficult after I build over it. However it seems worth testing the water first as it might well not be an issue.
Anyone got any experience of these kits? Which ones would people recommend?
Gas pipe was often lead when coal gas was all the rage - our subbies used to pin drill them and then stick in a self tapper to seal it back up.
If it was left open you would get people t]who didn't even have a natural gas supply ringing in gas leaks - that smell just never dies, and would work it's way up through the soil all ready for the next time they dug the front garden.
If it was left open you would get people t]who didn't even have a natural gas supply ringing in gas leaks - that smell just never dies, and would work it's way up through the soil all ready for the next time they dug the front garden.
It would definitely be around the extension, though I didn't realise it had to be 750mm down. That's a lot (more) digging. Access is pretty poor and it's close to a nearby foundation so it would probably be a case of digging by hand.
Good point about town gas, although I'm pretty sure it's water as it's in the right place and as far as I know there was never town gas here.
Drilling a hole sounds potentially risky, isn't it? Both in the sense of disturbing stuff and risking more lead in the water and creating a natural leak risk which will soon be buried under the foundations. Although I suppose it would be a conclusive test.
Good point about town gas, although I'm pretty sure it's water as it's in the right place and as far as I know there was never town gas here.
Drilling a hole sounds potentially risky, isn't it? Both in the sense of disturbing stuff and risking more lead in the water and creating a natural leak risk which will soon be buried under the foundations. Although I suppose it would be a conclusive test.
JuanCarlosFandango said:
While digging the foundations for an extension I have uncovered a lead pipe which I believe is the mains water to the house. I can't be sure it is the supply as there's a mess of popes around and very little known about what's underneath.
I'm thinking of replacing it because it would be relatively easy now and extremely difficult after I build over it. However it seems worth testing the water first as it might well not be an issue.
Anyone got any experience of these kits? Which ones would people recommend?
Contact your water supplier. They will offer a free visit to come and collect a sample. May take couple of weeks to get appointment but at least you have some assurance that it's been tested properly.. I'm thinking of replacing it because it would be relatively easy now and extremely difficult after I build over it. However it seems worth testing the water first as it might well not be an issue.
Anyone got any experience of these kits? Which ones would people recommend?
As said, if you ask the waterboard about lead replacement they should be accomodating and or trace your supply for you, and are then required to replace it for free up to the boundary. Or in practice, connect your replacement pipe (laid the the boundary, with length to rear the main) up to the mains with a lead free connection.
We did ours around a year ago with United Utilities after a few months of them finally finding our stopcock, around the corner joined to the other road! I was however agreed the replacement could go on a new and shorter route, down the garden path to the road at the front, rather than under the garage and mature pines to the side! Cost for a certified man+labourer to hand-dig a 15m of trench, supply and install the pipe with the right fittings, and provide paperwork it had been done to spec, was about £600. Fixed price, which worked a bargain as is ended up being a three day job with a kango hammer through soft bedrock and a lot of tree roots!
Waterboard then hooked it to the main, and bingo bango.
Daniel
We did ours around a year ago with United Utilities after a few months of them finally finding our stopcock, around the corner joined to the other road! I was however agreed the replacement could go on a new and shorter route, down the garden path to the road at the front, rather than under the garage and mature pines to the side! Cost for a certified man+labourer to hand-dig a 15m of trench, supply and install the pipe with the right fittings, and provide paperwork it had been done to spec, was about £600. Fixed price, which worked a bargain as is ended up being a three day job with a kango hammer through soft bedrock and a lot of tree roots!
Waterboard then hooked it to the main, and bingo bango.
Daniel
JuanCarlosFandango said:
It would definitely be around the extension, though I didn't realise it had to be 750mm down. That's a lot (more) digging. Access is pretty poor and it's close to a nearby foundation so it would probably be a case of digging by hand.
Good point about town gas, although I'm pretty sure it's water as it's in the right place and as far as I know there was never town gas here.
Drilling a hole sounds potentially risky, isn't it? Both in the sense of disturbing stuff and risking more lead in the water and creating a natural leak risk which will soon be buried under the foundations. Although I suppose it would be a conclusive test.
Pin drilling is certainly not an approved method, but that didn't stop our subbies doing it.Good point about town gas, although I'm pretty sure it's water as it's in the right place and as far as I know there was never town gas here.
Drilling a hole sounds potentially risky, isn't it? Both in the sense of disturbing stuff and risking more lead in the water and creating a natural leak risk which will soon be buried under the foundations. Although I suppose it would be a conclusive test.
Other bodges included pin drilling a cast pipe to see if it was an old town gas pipe or a live water main, or a dead water main - and if it was live, just tapping in a matchstick to seal it and covering it over again - not quite an approved method either!
Ah, no - it's only "OK but not OK" outdoors - have never seen it happening inside. Have seen a few mad eejits when I was on gas networks, pin drilling uncovered plastic mains to see if they were live yet or just laid but not connected, then sticking in a self tapper.
Back in the old days, when NI didn't have much of a gas network and they would lay "speculative" mains when water or leccy works were taking place and not hook them up until they had enough customers wanting a connection. Most of those mains the eejits were able to access would have been in a low pressure area though, they were only allowed to lay 75mbar pipes in built up areas. Pin drilling a 7 bar main wouldn't be sensible. Nor the 70bar feeder, though that would be a hell of a drill and a hell of a self tapper to seal it back up.
Back in the old days, when NI didn't have much of a gas network and they would lay "speculative" mains when water or leccy works were taking place and not hook them up until they had enough customers wanting a connection. Most of those mains the eejits were able to access would have been in a low pressure area though, they were only allowed to lay 75mbar pipes in built up areas. Pin drilling a 7 bar main wouldn't be sensible. Nor the 70bar feeder, though that would be a hell of a drill and a hell of a self tapper to seal it back up.
Thanks for the replies, very helpful.
After further investigation I'm 90% sure the lead pipe in question is not our water main. However I have ordered a water test kit and also told the water company, not that they seemed very interested. The main here is not lead so it's my responsibility.
If the test doesn't show high levels then I will forget it, if it does I will put in a new main which won't be huge task.
After further investigation I'm 90% sure the lead pipe in question is not our water main. However I have ordered a water test kit and also told the water company, not that they seemed very interested. The main here is not lead so it's my responsibility.
If the test doesn't show high levels then I will forget it, if it does I will put in a new main which won't be huge task.
Most of the mains supplies are lead - the water company put inhibitor into the water to counter negative effects. They are always renewing and replacing, but there is a lot of lead out there!
But they may offer a replacement scheme and noting how furred up lead becomes, makes sense to change it regardless. You can get 20m of pipe moled in for £500 if you phone around (or extend you dig and do it by hand - 750mm deep).
But they may offer a replacement scheme and noting how furred up lead becomes, makes sense to change it regardless. You can get 20m of pipe moled in for £500 if you phone around (or extend you dig and do it by hand - 750mm deep).
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