Water Meters and Supply Pipe Leak

hilltop

I am retired living alone and have been very frugal with the water. I have recently had a water meter fitted and the water engineer did say at the time that rhere was a small leak however my first metered bill indicated an annual charge of over £600.

The water meter is located in the public footpath accessible under an inspection cover and having turned off the main stop tap inside the house the meter readings indicated a leak in the supply pipe.

The water company engineer subsequently confirmed a leak using a listening stick - a metal rod with a wooden bobbin on the end held against his ear.

I am responsible for maintaining the water supply pipe running from the water company stop tap in the pavement next to the meter however the water company will as a concession dig up the pavement and repair any leak free of charge.

If no leak is found then I will be responsible for the cost of repairs to the section of lead pipe running under the house to the main stop at the rear. In practice this would mean installing a new blue plastic water supply pipe running 16 meters from the water company stop tap to my main stop tap at the rear of the house.

In moneysaving terms if the leak is not found in section beneath the pavement then I will face a worrying repair bill as I am not on any benefits that would entitle me to a grant.

The water company can now insist that I have the leak repaired even though this may well have gone undetected without the meter.