Water Disconnection in Shed. Who is Responsible?

Eldi_Dos

One area of research is what would be the procedure and costs if a building was being demolished.

kipsterno1

Sorry I can't offer anything in way of a solution but curious. Is this separate meter/supply generating any form of billing. Would a separate supply, even unused, not have a standing charge?

barnstar2077

I have received an email from them advising me to hire a plumber and telling me I must sever the connection where it branches off from the mains to the house, and not just cap it at the shed.  They have also stated that I must leave the trench open until they inspect it, and have given me a number to call to arrange said inspection.  They will also want the meter back.

I will investigate the path outside and see if I can determine where it needs to be cut before I call a plumber.

Thank you for everyones replies.  I will update when I have a quote, just for anyone that might be interested in doing something similar down the line.

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Are you sure the WB fitted this shed's meter? That would imply that the shed had to conform to building regs and had planning permission to be a separate habitable space. Could that really be the case?!

A property doesn't have to be habitable to have a water supply - public toilets, allotments, offices and factories being examples.

ThisIsWeird said:

From what you said earlier, the WB 'engineer' claimed that the whole street's supply would need shutting off in order to cap off the supply? That would suggest that your house, and your shed, do not have street-located stopcocks.

Not uncommon (on 1950/1960's LA estates for example) to have a sub-main serving multiple properties with only one stopcock on the 'main'.  The sub-main could be owned by the water company, or could be private.  Back in the day everyone had a storage tank in the loft, so turning the street supply off for a short time wouldn't usually be the 'disaster' it might be seen as today.

barnstar2077

Section62 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Are you sure the WB fitted this shed's meter? That would imply that the shed had to conform to building regs and had planning permission to be a separate habitable space. Could that really be the case?!

A property doesn't have to be habitable to have a water supply - public toilets, allotments, offices and factories being examples.

ThisIsWeird said:

From what you said earlier, the WB 'engineer' claimed that the whole street's supply would need shutting off in order to cap off the supply? That would suggest that your house, and your shed, do not have street-located stopcocks.

Not uncommon (on 1950/1960's LA estates for example) to have a sub-main serving multiple properties with only one stopcock on the 'main'.  The sub-main could be owned by the water company, or could be private.  Back in the day everyone had a storage tank in the loft, so turning the street supply off for a short time wouldn't usually be the 'disaster' it might be seen as today.

It was built in the fifties, and it did have water tanks as you said.

35har1old

barnstar2077 said:

Section62 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Are you sure the WB fitted this shed's meter? That would imply that the shed had to conform to building regs and had planning permission to be a separate habitable space. Could that really be the case?!

A property doesn't have to be habitable to have a water supply - public toilets, allotments, offices and factories being examples.

ThisIsWeird said:

From what you said earlier, the WB 'engineer' claimed that the whole street's supply would need shutting off in order to cap off the supply? That would suggest that your house, and your shed, do not have street-located stopcocks.

Not uncommon (on 1950/1960's LA estates for example) to have a sub-main serving multiple properties with only one stopcock on the 'main'.  The sub-main could be owned by the water company, or could be private.  Back in the day everyone had a storage tank in the loft, so turning the street supply off for a short time wouldn't usually be the 'disaster' it might be seen as today.

It was built in the fifties, and it did have water tanks as you said.

Storage tanks are usually only for storing water for toilets  and heating systems not for drinking water.
If you can locate the branch employ someone to excavate around it then a plumber who might be able to freeze the pipe to enable capping
If you are lucky and it's plastic it can be temporarily crushed and then capped