lead water supply pipe

rabialiones

our water pressure is quite low, water company have been and checked and say its because supply pipe to our house is lead and needs to be changed, which they will not do.

would this be covered by any home  policy or any advise as to how to deal with this problem.
thanks

rob7475

It won't be covered by any insurance policy. It's down to you to cover the cost if you want it replacing. I think you're responsible for it up to your boundary, and you water company will take responsibility and replace any lead outside of that. Speak to them and see if they can recommend any contractors to carry out the work if you want it changing. Also ask them to test your water as this will show lead levels in your drinking water.

nofoollikeold

1. Is it the pressure which is low, or the flow rate which is poor?  
2. Measuring the pressure requires a gauge.  It is quite unusual for householders to have one.
3. Measuring the flow can be done with a bucket and timer.
4. Before undertaking anything I'd suggest:
4a. Measuring the static pressure.  This is the pressure measured with no taps running.  Attach the gauge to something like an outside or washing machine cold tap and take the reading.
4b. Measuring the dynamic pressure.  This is the pressure with with another mains fed cold outlet running.  Attach gauge as above, and open the kitchen cold tap.
4c. Measuring the flow rate.  Time how long it takes to fill a 10 litre bucket, using mains cold water from an outlet with no restrictions.  Make sure the main stop tap is fully open.  Convert the flow rate into litres per minute.
4d. If the static pressure is less then 0.9 bar, contact the water supplier as there is a minimum pressure they are required to deliver, and I think this is 0.9 bar.  Look up the actual value for your supplier.
4e. If the dynamic pressure is less than half the static pressure, or the flow rate is less than about 10 lpm, the issue is flow, and is likely to be caused by restriction in the lead supply pipe.
5. If you have to replace the supply pipe, the cost of replacement from meter or water board stop !!!!!! to your stop !!!!!! is down to you.  It is not an accident or act of God, so I can't see any policy covering it.  It will require a trench to be dug or a new supply pipe to be "moled" in.  

Niv

I had the lead pipe replaced supplying my home. In my case the water company replaced it right up to the house boundary (which was great because I have a wall and a change of height between the road and my garden), in my case they did not need to trench they simply moled out the new run which would have kept costs down. 

Before I contacted the water board I did speak to a contractor to do the work and was given a rough guide of £1k, he was the one that pointed me to the water board which I thought was nice of him.

Another_Level

rabialiones said:

our water pressure is quite low, water company have been and checked and say its because supply pipe to our house is lead and needs to be changed, which they will not do.

What are they refusing to do ?  generally the free work is to replace the lead pipe from their water main to your property boundary in plastic pipe of the same diameter. There are always exceptions.  

From the boundary into your property  you will need a proper plumber like a watersafe plumber or a similar scheme You will pay the proper plumber for this work.

rabialiones

Niv said:

I had the lead pipe replaced supplying my home. In my case the water company replaced it right up to the house boundary (which was great because I have a wall and a change of height between the road and my garden), in my case they did not need to trench they simply moled out the new run which would have kept costs down. 

Before I contacted the water board I did speak to a contractor to do the work and was given a rough guide of £1k, he was the one that pointed me to the water board which I thought was nice of him.

did they replace it from your boundary to your house as well?
i have never heard of a 'watersafe' plumber, will have to look for one now, as lead pipe is from boundary to the house.
could you explain what moling in is as opposed to trench.

grumbler

https://www.stwater.co.uk/in-my-area/find-a-plumber/

I think anyone can lay a new pipe, but connection  is supposed to be done only by an 'approved' plumber/company.

- moling

Carrot007

Water company will replace to your boundry IF uou can dig a trench and lay plastic pipe in it to the boundry for them to connect to.

This is easy, but hey leave it until summer, jobs easier then.

Niv

rabialiones said:

Niv said:

I had the lead pipe replaced supplying my home. In my case the water company replaced it right up to the house boundary (which was great because I have a wall and a change of height between the road and my garden), in my case they did not need to trench they simply moled out the new run which would have kept costs down. 

Before I contacted the water board I did speak to a contractor to do the work and was given a rough guide of £1k, he was the one that pointed me to the water board which I thought was nice of him.

did they replace it from your boundary to your house as well?
i have never heard of a 'watersafe' plumber, will have to look for one now, as lead pipe is from boundary to the house.
could you explain what moling in is as opposed to trench.

Yes, the water company replaced the pipe right up to the side of the house, they just wouldnt go inside.

Not sure of the term but I know the guy I was talking to was also registered to do work for the water company, like others have said, its the joining into the mains that requires an approved contractor so you can have the pipe laid by someone else but I believe it needs to be visible if you do this so they can see the whole pipe so if you do it yourself it would have to be a trench but if you get the approved contractor in they can use the moling technique. 

@grumbler has posted a good pic to show moling.

rabialiones

lead pipe runs from boundary thru garden to house, so i dont think they will bring it to the house.

its manageable at the moment , so i will leave till summer and meanwhile try to look for a reliable watersafe plumber, to carry out the job by moling rather than diy as it may end up costing me more if i do something wrong.

also, i hopefully will not have to have a trench through partly paved garden
thanks to all for  advice.