Lead Water Mains Replacement

RWHarris

Currently in the process of purchasing our first home. Have had a not very good time with the overall process to be honest, trying to buy since January, but alas the end is in sight!

Overall property is in very good condition. The survey did note that the water mains pipe was lead - meaning the pipe seen joining the stopcock within the property. I have read about this and I imagine it may be for the most part fine over a lifetime to leave it. However, I know it is there, and there is absolutely no way I will be happy drinking lead for the next ten years.

Does anyone have recent experience having this pipe changed, in the London area?

I've contacted several plumbers, but they're not getting back to me. Not very encouraging is it!

It's probably a few meters from the curb to the front of the house, it's a solid floor (1930s), current location is under the stairs. There is only a small path at the front, tiny grass patch, no driveway (would plan to put one in eventually). 

My dad is a recently retired builder, grounds work, he has offered to help but I'd rather have someone do it than bother him. 

Any input on recent experience / cost would be extremely welcome.

Thank you!

badmemory

Unless you are going to get them to dig up the road too it would seem (for the time being at least) to be pretty pointless.

RWHarris

A good point! I do know however that Thames Water have changed their water mains pipe out on the road a couple of years ago. So the lead is only within the property boundary (the owners responsibility). 

I have seen you can get heavy metal filtration systems. This may be a simple and short term solution. But I imagine buying the filters over a lifetime would be more expensive than replacing the pipe. 

Nobbie1967

As you have solid floors it’s going to be expensive and messy. Did it on mine, but suspended floor, so dug a deep narrow trench from boundary to house and then dug under the foundation into the void under the floor. Laid a new blue pipe in place and arranged for water company to inspect trench. Once they were happy a date was set for changeover to new pipe and I booked my plumber to do the work in the house. Is the under stairs on an outside wall or is it a terrace? How far from the front wall is the stopcock location?

RWHarris

Yes dad and I said that about solid floor making it more challenging. So the current stopcock location is under the stairs, on an external wall that faces out onto the shared side access (1930s semi). Distance from front wall (street) to stopcock... I'm not there to measure but I'd estimate 4 meters internally and 5 externally ? So perhaps 9 meters?

Nobbie1967

That’s good news as you can trench down the side access and then dig under the foundation. Inside you just need a hole under the stairs deep enough to meet the tunnel under the foundation. I suspect plumbers are not interested since it is mainly groundwork’s, the plumbing element is trivial. If you can find someone to do it, I reckon you’re looking at £1500-2k, perhaps more depending on what making good you need afterwards on the shared access.