Water meters and earthing

PhilDS

Hi.

We've just had a water meter fitted to our house. We bought the house recently and ordered the water meter soon after. To our surprise the meter was fitted within 2 weeks after being told it could take 3 months.

Southern Water properly informed us that as our house was built in 1966 we need to get it checked to make sure it has an adeqaute earth that doesn't use the water main pipes. Now, we had every intention of getting this done, but we came home one day to find the meter had been fitted in the pavement outside and a letter on the mat (sent through the post) to say that the meter would be fitted on xxth December (that very day). Usually I would be very impressed and delighted at a speedy service, but it has left me a bit worried.

So, would it be easy for me to do the checks a sparky would do to check the earth, and, if so, what are they?

Thanks for the help (in advance)!

ahll

I would say for the best earth you will need to run an earth wire from the Fuse box/consumer unit to close to where the pipe comes into the house. If you are not confident about adding an earth wire in the fuse box I suggest you get a Sparky in. Also get them to check that the Electric meter and gas meter are also earthed along with the central heating pipes etc.

I hope this helps

PhilDS

ahll wrote:

I would say for the best earth you will need to run an earth wire from the Fuse box/consumer unit to close to where the pipe comes into the house. If you are not confident about adding an earth wire in the fuse box I suggest you get a Sparky in. Also get them to check that the Electric meter and gas meter are also earthed along with the central heating pipes etc.

I hope this helps

Thanks. The electric meter and the gas meter seemed to be earthed to a copper wire leading down into (or out of i guess) the main electrical supply line into the house. Does this supply line have an adequate earth (I would of thought it should)? If so, I guess that is the ideal earth for the electrical system?

uncle_buck_3

I would imagine that your house will have an earth point provided by the supplier…most have.

Have a look at the 5th post down for more info & to identify your house Earthing arrangements
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?start=30&t=7553

beefster

Oh dear........ I fear there is a lack of knowledge of electrical bonding or earthing and as such you should leave it to someone who does.

The point the water board are making is that they have possibly used plastic pipes in their installation which do not conduct electricity and thus your earth path may have been interupted. You therefore need to get it checked.
Before 1966 it was permitted to use the water pipe as your earth path. This is now a no no. You need to check what sort of earthing system you have in place.
If you have an earth spike or an earth connection on the main cable coming into the property before the meter you "may" be ok. If you have neither you deff need to get this sorted asap as there is a serious safety problem. Without a secure earth path your safety devices will not operate leaving you prone to shock if a fault occurs. i.e. your fuses will not blow / breakers trip etc leaving any metalwork possibly live to the touch.

You are probably OK and this is the water board covering their backsides but get someone in to check it out. Better safe than sorry.

beefster

uncle_buck wrote:

I would imagine that your house will have an earth point provided by the supplier…most have.

Have a look at the 5th post down for more info & to identify your house Earthing arrangements
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?start=30&t=7553

Now why didnt i just do that....... top post.

PhilDS

beefster wrote:

Oh dear........ I fear there is a lack of knowledge of electrical bonding or earthing and as such you should leave it to someone who does.

The point the water board are making is that they have possibly used plastic pipes in their installation which do not conduct electricity and thus your earth path may have been interupted. You therefore need to get it checked.
Before 1966 it was permitted to use the water pipe as your earth path. This is now a no no. You need to check what sort of earthing system you have in place.
If you have an earth spike or an earth connection on the main cable coming into the property before the meter you "may" be ok. If you have neither you deff need to get this sorted asap as there is a serious safety problem. Without a secure earth path your safety devices will not operate leaving you prone to shock if a fault occurs. i.e. your fuses will not blow / breakers trip etc leaving any metalwork possibly live to the touch.

You are probably OK and this is the water board covering their backsides but get someone in to check it out. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the advice guys. You've convinced me to get it looked at. Any idea how much it should cost so I don't get ripped off? Will all electrical installations need to be checked or just the earth point?

uncle_buck_3

Looking at the diagrams in the link I posted ….which one looks like the wiring in your house?

PhilDS

uncle_buck wrote:

Looking at the diagrams in the link I posted ….which one looks like the wiring in your house?

The TN-C-S diagram looks like the one. Hopefully that means I'm ok.

uncle_buck_3

If your Earthing arrangement is the TN-C-S system also known as PME (protective multiple earthing) you have nothing to worry about….the only system in the diagrams that could possibly use the main water pipe as the main Earthing point would be the TT system.
The TT system is usually used when the electricity supply is fed from overhead cables (rural properties, farms etc)….& even then a lot of overhead supplied properties have now been switched to TN-C-S supplies.

PhilDS wrote:

Southern Water properly informed us that as our house was built in 1966 we need to get it checked to make sure it has an adeqaute earth that doesn't use the water main pipes.

This will be a standard notification served to older properties when pipework is altered.