Replacing Lead Pipe

Jib111

Hi, would just like a little advise.

I've tested the flow rate of our taps and we are getting about 6 liters per minute which is very bad, also not very good pressure either.

Now the lead pipes date back to the 1920s and I believe the pipes are burst on our land, it is also a shared water supply.

So would replacing the pipe with MDPE make the flow and pressure better? Also we won't be using a shared supply we will have our own connection, the only downside is we live down a longish path from the street so even after all this will it definitely help matters?

Many thanks.

Edit: Would you recommend 25mm or 32mm? The water company will give a free connection to 25 or 32.

deanos

might as well get 32mm, bear in mind that it may not be totally free you are still liable for traffic light and road closure if its required

you are also responsible for disconnecting at point of shared supply to your property

also you will also need to bring the replacement pipe up to the public highway and get the pipe into the property in line with current by-laws

how many houses share the supply now ?

Jib111

deanos wrote: »

might as well get 32mm, bear in mind that it may not be totally free you are still liable for traffic light and road closure if its required

you are also responsible for disconnecting at point of shared supply to your property

also you will also need to bring the replacement pipe up to the public highway and get the pipe into the property in line with current by-laws

how many houses share the supply now ?

We share with the lady at the top only.

deanos

how far from the main are you and what size is coming into the property now ?

Jib111

I am not sure of the size coming in at the moment I would suspect 15mm though.

And we around 50 meters from the main.

deanos

i would think it would make a difference as its quite a small pipe and feeding 2 properties and quite a distance from the main, although you cant guarantee anything, do you have a good plumber you can ask

Jib111

We do. We have been given a list of water marked plumbers by Seven Trent.

wizzards

The scrap price you could get for the lead pipe might well pay for some of the cost if they recover it. However they might just dig a new trench and lay a new pipe. Depends where the old lead pipe is run.

Its difficult to say it would or wouldn't make the pressure better but if the existing pipe is leaking somewhere then for sure it will make a difference. Plumber will be able to advise on best replacement. Get a few quotes.

Also there is nothing to stop you digging a trench and putting in the pipe yourself and get someone to do the connection as long as you make sure it complies with the regs and its your land. Mind you 50 metres is quite a long way.

deanos

If i am reading it right seems you wont qualify for lead replacement unless your neighbour also replaced there supply as ST will not be geting rid of the old lead supply it will still exist

http://www.stwater.co.uk/upload/pdf/Form_J.pdf

Jib111

deanos wrote: »

If i am reading it right seems you wont qualify for lead replacement unless your neighbour also replaced there supply as ST will not be geting rid of the old lead supply it will still exist

http://www.stwater.co.uk/upload/pdf/Form_J.pdf

Good point, will have to ask this to our plumber.

Would Seven Trent find out it is shared if I don't declare it?

Also how much would a standard connection cost?

Thanks.

Jib111

• The existing pipe is not shared or lead
• You have not separated from the previous shared supply

That bit confuses me, can you explain please?