Water Supply Leak

[dgl]

All, anyone have any experience with a leak between the water meter and your house?

We got a rather large water bill and subsequent investigations have shown that our water meter is turning even when the supply in the house is turned off.

3 Valleys water have been really unhelpful and have said it's our responsibility and that we need to get it fixed. Now we are faced with having to dig our drive up to locate the leak and then either repair or replace the pipe

I contacted our buildings insurance company today to find out if it would be covered and was told that if the leak had been caused by accident or by something like a tree root it would, however if it was just down to age, it would not be covered.

Anyone have any experience on this or any advice you can share?

Thanks in advance

[johnny11]

i had a leak last year, water was appearing on the driveway, i called my supplier sutton and east surrey water, who came out within 4 days and told me they will do a repair free, but then they found the leak was coming from under the house so this could not be repaired and the pipe was lead, so i asked how much to run a new blue water pipe from the street to the stop cock. i was quoted £350 cash, so i agreed, but they did not have to did all my driveway up, just a hole near the pavement and another infront of the house then this machine which can only be explained as a big vibrator bored a hole all the way between the two. all in all took about 3-4 hours and they put back all the block paving on the drivway they took up.

[dgl]

Thanks for that, if it costs me that sort of money, I can live with it.

I think the tool you are referring to is a mole?

At least your water company sounded a bit more helpful than mine. I live in Egham and we have three valleys water here.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Rustynuts]

A customer of mine had this very problem, and got lumped with a water bill of 7 grand. His insurance paid out.

Easiest way to go would be to dig from the water meter directly to the house, making sure that the part of the house you go to has a cold supply there. Somewhere like a kitchen, utility room, or downstairs toilet is ideal. Then you can go into the building there, and connect onto the existing cold mains. All you need to do then is disconnect the old mains where it comes in.

Of course, it could be that this is the route of the old mains anyway, just depends on the location of the existing. If that's the case then you might end up following the old mains and come across the leak on your way. Then it's a choice as to whether to repair or replace the whole lot.

You'll need to dig a 750mm deep trench for the new service pipe to make sure it doesn't freeze in winter, and a coil of 25mm service pipe with push fit connectors from your local building merchants. A local plumber will doubtless have done this before. A dig yourself will save a load of money as he'll charge you for his time to dig. And it's good exercise aswell.

[Rustynuts]

If the old supply is lead pipework, then they may be more amenable with regards helping you to do it.

[dgl]

Thanks very much for the reply.

I'm a little worried about digging down in case I damage something else?!?

Would prefer to get someone else to do it, unless it is going to cost £KKKK's!

Thanks Again.

[pingpongpo]

I always thought the rule of thumb was that the water company would fix the first leak of this kind for nothing and then you were on your own?

[Scotty]

I had to fix it myself when we had something similar. I was worried the leak was under the concrete kitchen and bathroom floor.

Fortunately for me (and the lady down the road who's floor boards were floating!!) it was under the front lawn.

A day digging, fitting a new joint and filling it in solved the problem. The water board weren't interested apart from informing me that I had to solve it and solve it quick or they'd turn off the supply.

I also learnt that I was allowed to turn off the stop cock in the street as they got rid of the rule that said only the Water Board could touch it.

My problem was about 12 years ago so it may have changed again since.