Water Company Installed New Stoptap. 40m more pipe for me?
Discussion
I'd appreciate opinions, experience and advice on this one.
Background. I've moved into my Dad's house and help with admin following my mum's death. He is still the sole account holder for the water.
We began experiencing low cold water flow and investigation revealed it to be occuring between the mains and the stop tap Severn Trent installed in 2014 on the property boundary. This was installed to trace a leak, because they couldn't locate another stop tap between main and property and needed to close off the supply.
The communication pipe runs from a water main on the principle east-west road through our village and under a neighbouring property before crossing into our property and meeting the stop tap.
In 2022, a leak from the communication pipe on the neighbouring property was reported by the neighbour, and Severn Trent fixed it.
During the investigation for the current low flow, a previously unknown, 40+ year old stop tap was discovered. This was not known to exist at house purchase (1986), nor on asset maps of Severn Trent. They promptly replaced it with a new stop tap and seemingly gifted us 40m of pipe, buried in a neighbouring property, despite previously taking responsibility for the communication pipe. They verbally notified me, but did not notify my Dad as account holder that he would suddenly be responsible for all the additional pipework.
After months of to and fro I'm ready to open a case with OFWAT, but the PH hive mind is an amazing thing, so I thought I'd ask!
For ref, the mains is 4 bar and 25L/min and our boundary stop tap is 4 bar and 6L/min, and having paid privately for a pipe inspection and flush, we found a galvanised steel inch diameter pipe, no significant calcification and minimal rust, so the suggestion is a tree root has finally caused a kink, since the flow drop was sudden. The water comes out crystal clear, but bloody slowly.
TIA
Background. I've moved into my Dad's house and help with admin following my mum's death. He is still the sole account holder for the water.
We began experiencing low cold water flow and investigation revealed it to be occuring between the mains and the stop tap Severn Trent installed in 2014 on the property boundary. This was installed to trace a leak, because they couldn't locate another stop tap between main and property and needed to close off the supply.
The communication pipe runs from a water main on the principle east-west road through our village and under a neighbouring property before crossing into our property and meeting the stop tap.
In 2022, a leak from the communication pipe on the neighbouring property was reported by the neighbour, and Severn Trent fixed it.
During the investigation for the current low flow, a previously unknown, 40+ year old stop tap was discovered. This was not known to exist at house purchase (1986), nor on asset maps of Severn Trent. They promptly replaced it with a new stop tap and seemingly gifted us 40m of pipe, buried in a neighbouring property, despite previously taking responsibility for the communication pipe. They verbally notified me, but did not notify my Dad as account holder that he would suddenly be responsible for all the additional pipework.
After months of to and fro I'm ready to open a case with OFWAT, but the PH hive mind is an amazing thing, so I thought I'd ask!
For ref, the mains is 4 bar and 25L/min and our boundary stop tap is 4 bar and 6L/min, and having paid privately for a pipe inspection and flush, we found a galvanised steel inch diameter pipe, no significant calcification and minimal rust, so the suggestion is a tree root has finally caused a kink, since the flow drop was sudden. The water comes out crystal clear, but bloody slowly.
TIA
Appreciate (most) replies.
TLDR is I get that responsibility for the pipe after the stop-tap is mine, but to replace a previously unmapped stop-tap 40m upstream and saddle us with the complex pipe responsibility without notice/opportunity to discuss legalities seems a more than a bit unreasonable.
TLDR is I get that responsibility for the pipe after the stop-tap is mine, but to replace a previously unmapped stop-tap 40m upstream and saddle us with the complex pipe responsibility without notice/opportunity to discuss legalities seems a more than a bit unreasonable.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff