Water supply pipe damaged by neighbour

Francis63

I spoke to Thames Water and they said they would have to do a survey of the work and pass it as complying with water regulations whilst the pipe is in the trench and before being covered over.

That made me feel a bit better, but my neighbour thinks that as the work is entirely on private property it is beyond any area for which Thames Water have responsibility.

Is this correct? Surely any work must be signed off by the governing body.

Francis63

Mojisola wrote: »

Are you boiling all the water you're using for drinking/teeth cleaning/etc?

No, is that necessary then?

Mojisola

Francis63 wrote: »

No, is that necessary then?

You don't know what entered the pipe while it was broken and whether he has sealed it up enough to stop any further contamination.

PheoUK

Thames water is correct. Has to be WRAS certified. We had a plumber use a mole to put in a new supply - had to be WRAS approved otherwise south east would have to inspect it

Francis63

Thanks PheoUK, that's very helpful.

Francis63

Mojisola wrote: »

You don't know what entered the pipe while it was broken and whether he has sealed it up enough to stop any further contamination.

Thanks Mojisola.

The Tenant reported that the hot water was flowing hot, then cold (2 days later, when I first heard from the neighbour about the damage).

The Tenant said his son thought it was probably the heat exchanger. I know these can get 'blocked'. My gas engineer is sourcing the part now (he came with the wrong part on Saturday).

Do you think this is coincidence or do you think that this break in the pipe may actually have been the cause? Somehow clogging up the heat exchanger?

lewishardwick

Francis63 wrote: »

Thanks Mojisola.

The Tenant reported that the hot water was flowing hot, then cold (2 days later, when I first heard from the neighbour about the damage).

The Tenant said his son thought it was probably the heat exchanger. I know these can get 'blocked'. My gas engineer is sourcing the part now (he came with the wrong part on Saturday).

Do you think this is coincidence or do you think that this break in the pipe may actually have been the cause? Somehow clogging up the heat exchanger?

Is it a combi boiler? A drop in pressure would probably stop it working. How is the pressure from the cold tap, lower than normal?

Francis63

Thanks Lewis.

It is a combi boiler.

If the pressure dropped during the damage & subsequent leak, would it not have gone back to normal with the temporary repair?
.

Ozzuk

Just a thought, is the water supply legal? I.e. do you have an easement for the water to run across his land?

I've had a total unbelievable nightmare with this in the past so before pushing back too much you should make sure you actually have the right.

Francis63

Yes it is.

Our houses were once one big house, susequently divided vertically into two freehold cottages.

The services all run through his into mine. They are on the deeds and there is a covenant saying that he must not alter them, nor is he allowed to build over them or plant trees or bushes within 1.5 meters of them.

He signed up to all that when he bought the house.