Water Company won't repair/replace meter

KateThatcham

I live in a mid-terrace property with a shared water pipe from the main pipe in the street.  I had a water meter and stop tap combined unit fitted by Thames Water in the kitchen more than 10 years ago, replacing the original stop tap. 

Recently I've found that the stop tap on the meter doesn't turn off properly and I was advised by a plumber to contact Thames Water for a repair or replacement.

Thames Water tell me that it is my problem and gave me a list of plumbers who could, at my expense,  fit an 'aladdin ' valve to turn off the water completely.

Am I being unreasonable in expecting Thames Water to repair or replace their equipment which no longer functions as it should?

Currently it leaks at a rate of 180ml in 10 minutes, so obviously I need a way to turn off the incoming water completely in the event of a  burst pipe, etc....

Nifty_Purse

I don't have experience of Thames Water.
However, as I understand it, it is usual practice now for water companies to install the water meter outside the boundary of the house i.e. in the pavement so they can read the meter without disturbing the homeowner this has an outside stopcock in it. Anything inside your property boundary is usually the property owners responsibility, which is why they are telling you that you need to update the internal pumping of your house and replace the internal stopcock yourself. I would talk to them again and make clear that this is your only stopcock and, therefore, they need to provide an up to date external meter. I think maybe that is the misunderstanding.

KateThatcham

Thanks for your reply.   I had explained to them that I have no other way to turn off the water in an emergency, unless I turned off the shared pipe at the stop tap in the street - if I could find it - which would not go down well with my neighbours.   Thames Water said that they would not replace the meter until the smart meter rollout reaches my area, which could be years.

I'm faced with getting a second stop tap fitted just above the existing meter / stop tap combination, in a small space behind the washing machine. 

It is not something that you expect to have to do when you have a water meter fitted by your water company to save money on your bills!

JJ_Egan

I have a water meter and two stop taps .

Stop taps are part of the building and nothing to do with the water board .

Cardew

As above, I have an internal water meter and stop tap, and it is my responsibility.

A few years ago the water company(Severn Trent) replaced the meter with a 'smart' meter* .

* This type of smart meter simply enables the meter reader to take a reading from outside the house.