Water Supply

eeeeeee

So why hasnt he shut the supply off at the main stop tap and repaired the leak immeadiately ? cant be that urgent ?

eeeeeee

Common lead supply pipes
Many older properties, particularly terraced houses, are served by a common supply pipe. This pipe provides water to a number of houses from one single connection to the water main.

These supply pipes are usually made of lead or iron and are often too small for the water needs of modern kitchens and bathrooms. If you are on this type of system, you might notice that your water pressure is poor and is affected when your neighbours use their water.



We are responsible for the communication pipe from our water main to the boundary of the street where our main is. Common supply pipes are the joint responsibility of each property fed by the communication pipe. You alone are responsible for the branch pipe which brings water from the common supply pipe to your home or to your outbuilding.

eeeeeee

1 x mains stop tap in the road ( path ) nearby
communication pipe runs from the mains stop tap
branch runs from the communication pipe too your home
everyone has there own branch
if he disconnects his own branch fair enough
hes not allowed too disconnect everyone else from the communication pipe too relieve his issue
he has too serve you 14 days notice of an interruption of supply ;
interruption of supply is not allowed too exceed 12 hours in any one day on the given dates
after that you are entitled too be compensated by the person who disrupted your water supply

eeeeeee

still sounds like he is doing a sole connection too the mains by cutting everyone else off from the communication pipe too improve his own pressure in his water supply ;may be he is having a new shower or a boiler fitted

JasonHand

Hi eeeeee,

He has been very vague into why he is cutting the pipes. The letter he has sent basically said that is property has ongoing flooding issues. He then goes onto say plumbing work is being carried out over the next few months to rectify the problem which means the exisiting supply to your property will no longer function. So is it standard to have the connecting pipes inside a private property?

He started the letter stating the work incorrectly fitted water supply pipes from inside his property to adjoining properties. I believe this is why I thinks its legal to cut off water supplies

I admit I'm not expert on plumbing whatsoever. But your right the water pressure isn't great although I always put that down to an old boiler

Thanks for your help by the way

JasonHand

Once again thanks all for your advice. I'm begining to get a bit of a foothold into all this now.

Managed to speak again with Yorkshire Water who were actually down at the property today to assess if the pipes are legal or not. So clearly this hadn't been done before issuing the letter.

It was actually my Dad who spoke to them because he is doing some work at mine. They told him that nothing could be done until the legallity of the pipes had been confirmed. They also went on to say that if they are illegal then he would be liable for any changes made to the supply and he would be responsible to ensure everyone else had a supply. And only Yorkshire Water can say if the pipes are illegal or not.

I've managed to get my deeds today. Can I give you an excert

2 The land has the benefit of the rights granted by but is subject
as mentioned in a Conveyance of the land in this title and other
land dated 5 January 1962 made between (1) Margaret Atkinson and
Edward Brooke Heap (Vendors) and (2) John Charles Kilner
(Purchaser) in the following terms:-
"TOGETHER WITH the benefit of and SUBJECT to the existing
arrangement as to ways drains eaves spouts fall pipes gas water
and electric pipes and mains bearing on walls lateral and other
support hanging of clothes and lights and all other existing
arrangements as between the property hereby conveyed and the
adjoining property of the Purchaser and so that all ways drains
spouts pipes mains and other things used jointly shall be

maintainable and repairable by the users thereof in equal shares


I'll be honest I'm not 100% certain what any of this means.

eeeeeee

jason ... what the wording is ,,,, is as states ... communual services ie gas pipes drains clean water surface water and electricity cables and communually ( bad spelling ) owned by all the properties that are connected to them ; such statements are often written into deeds by mutual agreement too protect the owners of the properties from such actions what i state stands its a common supply pipe ... let me know how you get on:D

JasonHand

Thanks for that.

I'm still not sure 100% at the moment if my neighbours intentions have changed. One thing I do know is Yorkshire Water were at his property a few days ago apparently to assess these pipes which he claimed were illegal.

Now I don't know the outcome of this at the moment. Really stuggling to contact him.

Really frustrated by the lack of action from both Yorkshire Water and CC Water who clearly don't want to get involved.

Both claiming its a private matter which I understand but there has to come a time when there is a threat that houses might not have fresh running water that common sense needs to come into play.

I can't believe in this country its almost deemed acceptable that you can have your water pipes disconnected by a member of the public and you can be literaly left out to dry.

Its a disgrace that the only option Yorkshire Water can suggest is to have a new supply fitted which can take around 9 weeks and cost around £2000. They even charge you over £100 just to put an application in. Now sadly I don't have that kind of money. So what am I supposed to do, have no water.

Its a farce

Cardew

Perhaps it is time to bring in the local councillor, it is what they are elected for - to look after interests of citizens.

As this affects other people, they will have a good case to take up..

JasonHand

I have now received a new letter from my neighbour stating the work will still go ahead but it will be on the 9th Jan 2013.

He has put in his letter that its not a common water supply pipe, but my supply is tapped into his supply.

Does that changes anything?