lead pipe replacement scheme Thames Water

cosmos123

Hi, I wonder if anyone has any advice on this please. 

I am renovating my ground floor and found lead pipes. Since the floor is being dug up I have replaced all the pipes on my property with approved plastic pipes up to my boundary. I applied to the Thames Water lead pipe replacement scheme a few weeks ago and requested they survey my pipework and reconnect me.  The survey man said I could not proceed because I have not brought the pipework up to the stopcock. I cannot do this as I would need to dig up the pavement which I obviously don't have the authority to do. I have replaced like for like up to my boundary, as per their instructions. It is not my fault if the stopcock is located 5 metres from my property. I spoke to their operations department afterwards and was told that the new connection would be free if I waited 3 months or £500 if I wanted it quicker. This morning I called to arrange the quicker connection and have been quoted almost £2000 for this. Aside from the fact that I cannot afford this, it seems totally unacceptable that I have to pay for Thames Water to replace their own pipe work. I understand that technically it is "my" pipework even though it is not on my property, but I am in a complete catch 22 situation as cannot replace the pipework for the few metres from my boundary to their stopcock as cannot dig up the pavement.

MattMattMattUK

cosmos123 said:

Hi, I wonder if anyone has any advice on this please. 

I am renovating my ground floor and found lead pipes. Since the floor is being dug up I have replaced all the pipes on my property with approved plastic pipes up to my boundary. I applied to the Thames Water lead pipe replacement scheme a few weeks ago and requested they survey my pipework and reconnect me.  The survey man said I could not proceed because I have not brought the pipework up to the stopcock. I cannot do this as I would need to dig up the pavement which I obviously don't have the authority to do. I have replaced like for like up to my boundary, as per their instructions. It is not my fault if the stopcock is located 5 metres from my property. I spoke to their operations department afterwards and was told that the new connection would be free if I waited 3 months or £500 if I wanted it quicker. This morning I called to arrange the quicker connection and have been quoted almost £2000 for this. Aside from the fact that I cannot afford this, it seems totally unacceptable that I have to pay for Thames Water to replace their own pipe work. I understand that technically it is "my" pipework even though it is not on my property, but I am in a complete catch 22 situation as cannot replace the pipework for the few metres from my boundary to their stopcock as cannot dig up the pavement.

It is not going to be an easy answer as the scheme specifically says you must take the pipework up to the meter. Though the section on the bullet points on the webpage is simplified and not completely clear "Will bring the pipe to current outside stop valve/ property boundary. This must be in line with the current outside stop valve", that simplified version should certainly be better worded. It might be worth having a chat with CCW, they may or may not be able to offer specific advice. 

https://www.ccw.org.uk/contact-us/