Who is responsible for water supply pipe leak

Meteorites

We have been informed by Anglian Water the we are rsponsible for leaks between our meter and our property. Usually that would not be a problem but our meter is a mile away, with the pipe burried under arable land that is not ours.

We have taken out insurance cover but the premium has been increasing rapidly and the latest renewal price is making me consider taking the risk of not renewing.

Is the advice from Anglian Water correct?

Are there alternative insurers who may be able to offer cover at a more affordable price?

FlorayG

Yes, unfortunately for you, what they say is correct

Brie

interesting.  our meter is also not on our property - likely due to someone making a deal with previous owners to buy a portion of the property and build some bungalows.  But with us the meter is quite literally a foot from our property border.

why is your meter so far away?  Wouldn't it be better to have a new one installed on or at least near your property?

If it's arable land what's to stop a farmer from plowing and smashing a pipe?  Or worse just nicking it so the location of the leak isn't obvious. 

TELLIT01

It seems very strange to effectively have the stopcock for the property a mile away.  What is the history?  Why is it so far away?  Is the property a former farm house by any chance?

dunstonh

It seems very strange to effectively have the stopcock for the property a mile away.  What is the history? 

Its quite common on farms.  Ours is about 400 metres from the house.

Is the advice from Anglian Water correct?

Yes.  you are responsible for the pipes after the meter.   However, it may not be that expensive. 

We had two leaks in the last year.  One was just the other side of the meter (a vehicle drove over the meter lid and got stuck in the mud and used the meter lid and sleeve to get out bending it in the process).  E&SW took care of that quickly enough.   The other was on our side of the meter when some fencing was going in on the boundary and went through the pipe.  We took care of that and it cost under £100.

If it's arable land what's to stop a farmer from plowing and smashing a pipe?  Or worse just nicking it so the location of the leak isn't obvious. 

Farms are typically very old and often the location of piping is vague to unknown and accidents happen (see above).   However, most pipes are not through the field but follow the original farm track to the house or on the very edge of the track/field or may be in a hedgerow now.   

Luckily, finding leaks and fixing them is quite easy for a tradesman.  Although some may see it as a chance to make money but it depends on your relationship with the trades.

Meteorites

Thank you for the replies dunstonh, tellit01, Brie and FlorayG.

In 2007 we purchased a small barn in a former farmyard for convertion and moved in a year later. The water supply have already been provided by the previous owner, we just connected it into the property. We do have a stop tap near our entrance but that has no meter. I doubt that Anglian Water would agree to the meter being moved as I expect that it was they who insisted it should be on the edge of the village.

It is the risk of damage that concerns us, although the pipes are buried very deep and normal ploughing should not reach them. The cost of locating a leak and making a repair could be very expensive which is the reason for taking out insurance. The pipes certainly to not just keep to tracks or field edges for the whole distance. There is also another barn whose pipe runs next to ours but the farmhouse still has its orignal supply pipe but that is split and also serves a bungalow in the next field but on the same meter. At least we do not have that complication.