Old copper pipe from bathroom to outside, any ideas?

cerebus

Section62 said:

cerebus said:

Not entirely correct,  it depends on the water company , my water board look after my supply pipe up to where it enters my house which is handy as it developed a leak last year and was repaired free of charge 

Some water companies carry out free repairs on privately owned supply pipes, but that isn't the same as them being responsible for them.

What I said is correct, because I made the point of saying "almost always" to allow for some special cases where the water company has responsibility beyond the boundary.  But the norm, as I said, is for the water company responsibility to end where the supply pipe crosses the boundary.

If you know of a water company who have responsibility for the supply pipe in all cases within their operational area then it would be useful if you could name them.

Why would it be useful? 

Semantics 

Section62

cerebus said:

Section62 said:

cerebus said:

Not entirely correct,  it depends on the water company , my water board look after my supply pipe up to where it enters my house which is handy as it developed a leak last year and was repaired free of charge 

Some water companies carry out free repairs on privately owned supply pipes, but that isn't the same as them being responsible for them.

What I said is correct, because I made the point of saying "almost always" to allow for some special cases where the water company has responsibility beyond the boundary.  But the norm, as I said, is for the water company responsibility to end where the supply pipe crosses the boundary.

If you know of a water company who have responsibility for the supply pipe in all cases within their operational area then it would be useful if you could name them.

Why would it be useful? 

Semantics

Because I've never heard of a water company with that responsibility and if there is one then I would have learned something new. I would like to know what legislation gave them that responsibility, so the next time someone asks I would know the correct answer.

But telling people that their "water board" is responsible for maintaining the supply pipe in their own property is, in the vast majority of cases, misleading them.  Ownership and responsibility for supply pipes is a matter of fact which has practical and financial implications. The OP could waste hours of time trying to persuade the water company to do something about this pipe on the basis of wrong advice on the internet. That isn't "semantics".

cerebus

Section62 said:

cerebus said:

Section62 said:

cerebus said:

Not entirely correct,  it depends on the water company , my water board look after my supply pipe up to where it enters my house which is handy as it developed a leak last year and was repaired free of charge 

Some water companies carry out free repairs on privately owned supply pipes, but that isn't the same as them being responsible for them.

What I said is correct, because I made the point of saying "almost always" to allow for some special cases where the water company has responsibility beyond the boundary.  But the norm, as I said, is for the water company responsibility to end where the supply pipe crosses the boundary.

If you know of a water company who have responsibility for the supply pipe in all cases within their operational area then it would be useful if you could name them.

Why would it be useful? 

Semantics

Because I've never heard of a water company with that responsibility and if there is one then I would have learned something new. I would like to know what legislation gave them that responsibility, so the next time someone asks I would know the correct answer.

But telling people that their "water board" is responsible for maintaining the supply pipe in their own property is, in the vast majority of cases, misleading them.  Ownership and responsibility for supply pipes is a matter of fact which has practical and financial implications. The OP could waste hours of time trying to persuade the water company to do something about this pipe on the basis of wrong advice on the internet. That isn't "semantics".

Who has been telling the OP that their water board is responsible for maintaining their supply pipe ?

Maybe read what has been said before replying?

That isn't "semantics"

cerebus

Oh and is it at all possible that they might repair a leaky supply pipe on someones property as a nice thing to do rather than going on a rant about practical and financial obligations?

cerebus

Oh and apologies to the OP for section62 hijacking your thread 

ThisIsWeird

How far have you got with this, Cosh? 

Have you tried turning that stopcock?! If so, any sound of running water? And can you tell which of the shown pipes actually lead out through the wall?

Who's doing your plumbing - you or a plumber? 

plumb1_2

cerebus said:

Oh and is it at all possible that they might repair a leaky supply pipe on someones property as a nice thing to do rather than going on a rant about practical and financial obligations?

I think you’re talking a load of H3O

cosh25

Thank you for everyones replies and advice!

It looks like it is the mains supply pipe and is live. The part where it enters the property was covered with a 10 inch slab of concrete on top of paving, hence why I think it was never changed.

The water companies responsibility ends at my boundary, but I would have sorted myself anyway.

The house when I bought it needed stripped back to brick, but only just got round to sorting the back yard… after the other things I have unearthed then ‘bodge job’ is a common term in this house!

Section62

cosh25 said:

Thank you for everyones replies and advice!

It looks like it is the mains supply pipe and is live. The part where it enters the property was covered with a 10 inch slab of concrete on top of paving, hence why I think it was never changed.

The water companies responsibility ends at my boundary, but I would have sorted myself anyway.

The house when I bought it needed stripped back to brick, but only just got round to sorting the back yard… after the other things I have unearthed then ‘bodge job’ is a common term in this house!

Look into getting it replaced by a modern MDPE pipe.  Copper isn't ideal to have in ground contact and will corrode over time.  Being underground you won't necessarily know if it starts leaking - which not only wastes water, it could also affect the foundations of the house.

Was there an outhouse/outside toilet somewhere in the direction the pipe comes from?

cosh25

Thanks, luckily I have a good plumber who can come out next week and swap for MDPE pipe. 

I believe there was an outside toilet. Had a better look today and you can see the old brick foundation and soil pipe for the outdoor toilet which were all covered in the concrete