If you live in a Victorian terrace house, there is a good chance you will have a shared water supply. This means the water supply to your home comes via a shared access pipe through a party wall. This is not necessarily an issue, but problems with a shared water supply can arise. In which case a water mains replacement is the best solution.
Shared Supply Problems
People with a shared water supply can find that when their neighbour runs water. The pressure in their own property drops noticeably, meaning they cannot run a shower, for example.
You may find that either you or your neighbour has the stopcock that controls the supply to both your houses. A common stopcock would also mean that, if, for insurance purposes, you were required to turn your supply off while you were away for any length of time, you would not be able to do so, if it affected your neighbour.
There may also be future issues with water metering. There are already plenty of issues reported in the media of people struggling to convince their water suppliers that they are paying for water that they are not using.
Underpinning all this is whether you get on with your neighbours or not – because if there are any issues with your shared water supply, not getting on can magnify them and turn them into long-term problems that can disrupt your lifestyle.
Your Own Supply Pipe
Under the Water Industry Act 1991, water and sewerage companies must connect people to their networks, so you do have the right to a separate supply.
However, you will have to pay for this work – the supply pipe that runs from the mains in the street to your property, within your boundary, is your responsibility.
Unlike other connections to services, such as gas, you have responsibility for the pipe. You could, therefore, ask your water supplier to lay a new supply pipe for you, but they would charge you for it, at whatever their going rate.
Alternatively, you could do the work yourself, but without specialist equipment, or specific experience, this can be messy, disruptive, and risky. If you damage any other utilities during your excavations, you may find yourself paying for a lot more than a new water supply pipe.
Water Mains Replacement Services
As a specialist contractor, we can do the work on your behalf. We’re quick, efficient and cost effective. We’ll use specialist techniques to minimise disruption, and ensure your new supply pipe meets all regulatory requirements.
If you share your water supply and you want to make a change, contact Pipeline Services for a quotation today.
