How to locate rising water main?

travel_freak

Hi there,

I have a first floor flat and cannot locate the water stopcock anywhere. I've been hoping to have one installed but no-one seems to know where/how to find the rising water main in order to fit one. Please does anyone have any tips?

I asked my neighbours downstairs where their stopcock is but having followed the line upstairs to my flat this hasn't helped.

Is this something the water board would know? I had a letter from them saying they wanted to put in a water meter - if I let them do this would they locate the rising main for me?

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

Russ66

travel_freak wrote:

Is this something the water board would know? I had a letter from them saying they wanted to put in a water meter - if I let them do this would they locate the rising main for me?

The water meter normally goes on top of the main supply stopcock which is usually located at the front of your property on the pavement in a small 8" ish round manhole. (Should say water on it)

HTH

HugoSP

Hi Travel

As you probably know by now there is no standard position for the rising main. The key places to look are the kitchen and bathroom areas. Try to follow your cold water supply to your kitchen tap back and see where this takes you.

If your flat is part of a converted house then there are two main possibilities. Either there is a main stopcock in the pavement or front path outside the property for each flat under covers lying flush with the pavement, or it is possible that whoever converted your block left the whole lot on one rising main.

If your neighbour turns off their stopcock does the supply to your flat stop?

WRT to the water meter - do you actually want one of these? If you do then by all means invite them in. It is possible that if the supplies are not separate they will not be able to fit one. In this case you will be put on what is called an assessed charge. This often works out cheaper than normal water rates and metered consumption.

tomstickland

You need to follow the pipes round the flat to try and locate the point at which the water comes in.

Mikeyorks

If they want to fit an internal water meter (sole possibility if the main doesn't split until it gets inside) - they have to fit an isolator (ie a stopcock) as part of the work. So you get a water meter / stopcock for free .. always assuming a meter suits your profile of water usage?