external Stop tap

kjeams

Who's responsibility is it for an external stop tap?

Our external stop tap is under the ground, outside our front door just off the pavement. It is a metal cover it, like other taps.

I lifted the cover and looked down once and I couldn't see the tap because it was covered in dirt.

Would this tap be owned by our local water supplier?

I was wondering in case we ever needed to use it. Normally we use the internal stop tap that is in our cellar.

The house is a mid terrace built around 1900.

latecomer

Not sure who owns it (I suspect the supplier) but they are generally full of all sorts of muck. If you have a valve in the house then you shouldn't need to use the one at the street unless you are planning on changing the mains before that valve. Anyway you can always take the cover off the one in the street and then clean it out to expose the stop valve. Note you will need a special key to operate it should you wish to.

Payless_2

latecomer wrote: »

Not sure who owns it (I suspect the supplier) but they are generally full of all sorts of muck. If you have a valve in the house then you shouldn't need to use the one at the street unless you are planning on changing the mains before that valve. Anyway you can always take the cover off the one in the street and then clean it out to expose the stop valve. Note you will need a special key to operate it should you wish to.

The water company is responsible for it. They replaced ours last year.

We have always used the valve in our yard as the one inside is so difficult to get to. The old valve was just like a tap. I haven't looked at the new outside valve. Where would I get a key for it?

ormus

always make sure you can get to your own stop tap in case of emergencies.
fit another one if required.
trying to access the street tap when the house is half under water, isnt a good idea.

screwfix/wickes etc will sell you a key. or you can make one from a bit of wood.

Payless_2

Thanks Ormus. I've just been out to check ours and I can still turn it by hand. To get to our internal stop !!!! we have to pull the wood bit from the bottom of the cupboard which is really tight. Then we have to find a torch and feel around at the back to find it. The outside one is right outside our back door and the cover opens easily and the tap turns without any trouble.

Ps Kjeams. I think you will have to clean the tap and the hole where it is out yourself if you want to use it. We did. Plus I believe that if you damage it you are responsible for paying for it's repair.