Empty Stop Tap Box at End of Drive?

adzy77

We are looking at getting a water meter fitted and I went outside today to look underneath the metal flap at the end of the drive and to my surprise there was nothing at all in there other than a pile of stones. At the time, I didnt put my hand in and look around as it just appearwd empty, no pipes or anything. But then I got thinking why is there a box there with nothing in it?

I will look under the stones tomorrow but they are quite far down so not expecting to see anything.

Is it normal for one not to be in there? Surely not

Cheeky_Monkey

It is not unusual for those to be empty.

When you request a water meter, your water board will come and fit a new one in the pavement and it will most likely have a round black plastic cover.

Don't bother taking the stones out

Lord_Baltimore

Are you sure there's nothing in there? There may be a valve that needs a long 'key' to operate it. It might not look like a conventional tap and it will be a long way down.

adzy77

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

It is not unusual for those to be empty.

When you request a water meter, your water board will come and fit a new one in the pavement and it will most likely have a round black plastic cover.

Don't bother taking the stones out

Well this is where its stemmed from really. They came out a month ago to survey the house and where to put the meter and they said it can go outside, they came back yesterday to fit it but I came in from work and nothing had been done, called them and apparently they cant fit one in there after all and that it may be possible inside, which is fine, id prefer it inside.

My main concern though is what if some day I need to use the external stop tap?

davidmcn

I had to remove a few handfuls of mud the last time I used one, so there may well be a valve under the stones. But I expect they can install one at the same time as the meter if necessary.

silvercar

I have the same situation.

Three weeks ago I phoned them and they said it was a work in progress. One set of people had made the hole in the right place, another set were due to come along and fit the meter and tap. Target time is 3 working days. I'm still waiting.

adzy77

I will just have to wait and see what happens I guess. I don't really understand it so it gets a bit confusing.

When they came a month ago, they sprayed the box blue, fair enough. I cam home yesterday and they had now sprayed two blue lines, one above the box and one below, i assume this shows where the pipes run. But then why did they stop? If I hadn't have called them I would assume that they will be coming back another day to finish off, but with calling them up and them saying they couldn't fit one, even after they came out to inspect weeks ago, its just all mightily confusing!