My water stopcock in the street has been sealed. Is this allowed?

Nebbit

My house has a stopcock in the front garden which was put in by a private plumber some years ago when we were extending  - nothing to do with the water board. It has recently developed a leak. Another plumber was called in to mend it but he pointed out that we have no stopcock in the public road. There was one, I remember, under a metal flap, but this has been  replaced with a tarmac seal - this must have been done by the water board. Other houses nearby still have these metal flaps. Surely all houses should have an accessible stopcock in the public road, rather than just relying on a private one in a garden?

MattMattMattUK

Nebbit said:

My house has a stopcock in the front garden which was put in by a private plumber some years ago when we were extending  - nothing to do with the water board. It has recently developed a leak. Another plumber was called in to mend it but he pointed out that we have no stopcock in the public road. There was one, I remember, under a metal flap, but this has been  replaced with a tarmac seal - this must have been done by the water board. Other houses nearby still have these metal flaps. 

It could be one of two things, one it was done when the pavement was resurfaced/a hole was repaired and is not deliberate, or two the water supplier have moved it and so filled in the old hole.

Nebbit said:

Surely all houses should have an accessible stopcock in the public road, rather than just relying on a private one in a garden?

Not at all, you get houses on shared supply where multiple houses have the same main stopcock, you get houses with no stopcock. It is better for everyone if there is one as the alternative is the supply might have to be cut off at the street level if there is a leak. If there is not one, or it is inaccessible you can ask the water supplier to fit one, though it might take some time. The alternative for the fix in the interim is a plumber who can freeze the pipe to stop the flow, then fix your stopcock.

Section62

Nebbit said:

My house has a stopcock in the front garden which was put in by a private plumber some years ago when we were extending  - nothing to do with the water board. It has recently developed a leak. Another plumber was called in to mend it but he pointed out that we have no stopcock in the public road. There was one, I remember, under a metal flap, but this has been  replaced with a tarmac seal - this must have been done by the water board. Other houses nearby still have these metal flaps. Surely all houses should have an accessible stopcock in the public road, rather than just relying on a private one in a garden?

There should be a means of isolation between the water company main and the inside of your home, but there is no fundamental reason why this cannot be within private property.  Water companies generally prefer to have their stopvalve/meter within the highway because it means they can access it at all times without having to get the householder's permission.

Can you post a picture of the 'tarmac seal'?  The old metal 'flap' covers were usually for a stopvalve only - the modern replacement is usually a plastic cover with a rubber seal, and if the company have installed a meter in the last 15 years or so then it is very likely the old metal 'flap' would have been replaced by a plastic meter cover.  When the highway authority resurfaces footways they are very careful to make sure all street furniture is still accessible, so it probably isn't likely (but not impossible) that the 'tarmac seal' is related to highway work.

Section62

MattMattMattUK said:

...The alternative for the fix in the interim is a plumber who can freeze the pipe to stop the flow, then fix your stopcock.

If the pipe is plastic (alkathene/MDPE) then it wouldn't need freezing, it should be possible to clamp it off.

Nebbit

Luckily the plumber has now managed to do a proper repair, exchanging the stopcock tap. I think he must have clamped off the plastic pipe. This stopcock has a metal flap marked WATER STOP TAP which he told me must have been installed by the waterboard, contrary to my initial belief that it was private. I was confused by the fact that it is so close to the house, barely 18" from our front wall. Here is a picture. 

Albermarle

As said it does not have to be on public land. Ours is in the middle of our driveway.

Nebbit

Can you post a picture of the 'tarmac seal'?  The old metal 'flap' covers were usually for a stopvalve only - the modern replacement is usually a plastic cover with a rubber seal, and if the company have installed a meter in the last 15 years or so then it is very likely the old metal 'flap' would have been replaced by a plastic meter cover.  When the highway authority resurfaces footways they are very careful to make sure all street furniture is still accessible, so it probably isn't likely (but not impossible) that the 'tarmac seal' is related to highway work.

Here is the picture. We have no water meter. 

FreeBear

Nebbit said:

Luckily the plumber has now managed to do a proper repair, exchanging the stopcock tap. I think he must have clamped off the plastic pipe. This stopcock has a metal flap marked WATER STOP TAP which he told me must have been installed by the waterboard, contrary to my initial belief that it was private. I was confused by the fact that it is so close to the house, barely 18" from our front wall.

For future reference, your local waterboard would have fixed the leak free of charge if it was their stopcock.

Have had Anglian Water out a couple of times over the years to sort mine out. Never any charge.

ic

I had a meter fitted, but went back to rates within the allowed period.  The pavement was later relaid, and the water board came out and adjusted the access panel to it - and covered the meter and stop tap in concrete.  When I enquired with united utilities, they told me they had no obligation to provide a stop tap and would not replace it.

Not sure how the people who moved in after me got on, they would have been automatically on the meter, despite it being buried in concrete.  I guess the water board can still read the meter remotely until the battery expires.

Nebbit

  When I enquired with united utilities, they told me they had no obligation to provide a stop tap and would not replace it.

Not sure how the people who moved in after me got on, they would have been automatically on the meter, despite it being buried in concrete.  I guess the water board can still read the meter remotely until the battery expires.

This is a crazy situation and makes me glad that my stop !!!!!! is on my property