How are new water supplies installed?

wonderful_wend

Hi, relatively new to the site, so bear with me. We have looked through the various questions, but cannot find what we need. We have a 1950's property,which we are extending. We have at present a 15mm copper pipe for our water supply. (which is ok, but not much pressure). We are wanting to upgrade to blue alcathene pipe, but the problem we face is this: Our property is off a privately owned road to a farm. The external stop-cocks are not outside our property, they are on the approach to the private road The pipework goes under this private road, to our boundary. What I want to know, if anyone can help, is can the water board replace the supply to our boundary, without the necessity of digging up the private road. We did have a new gas supply put to the property, and they used a "mole" which tunelled under the garden to get the pipework through without the need to dig up the garden? Can the water board do the same?.

I know it is the responsibilty of the Water Board to supply the pipework to the boundary of the property, but they will have to get permission of the road owner to do this, and if there was any other way than asking permission, I would prefer to go down that route if possible.

Any help would be appreciated.

Wonderful Wend.

mute_posting

I don't think replacing the supply pipe will have a significant benefit for your supply PRESSURE - if you are on a poor pressure part of the distribution network, that is pretty constant - you'll still have poor pressure.*

On the other hand, if the PRESSURE was good (high?) but your FLOW was restricted by the 1/2 inch pipe, then you may see a benefit moving to a HDPE supply pipe of larger bore..

*There is a ceveat here. Where you connect to the msin supply pipe you may be connected to a low pressure main and there "may" be a high pressure one available that has been laid at a leter date - if this is the case the water company can connect you to that. My folks had a similar thing about 15 years ago to be able to move away from a pumphouse at the bottom of the field (a well & pump supplied of the original low pressure main on the main road which then pumped the water upto the house) and move onto a higher pressure main that could get the water straingt into the house.

HTH

MP

davetrousers

Who supplies you?

How long is the 15mm supply pipe (ie how far is your property from the boundary/stopcock)?

Individual boosters can be installed to boost pressure to individual properties.

wonderful_wend

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for your help. It is much appreciated. sorry for the delay been away. Will check this out and get back to the site to let others know in case any others are in our situation.

Wonderful wend.

wonderful_wend

Dave Trousers

reply to question - 15mm pipe is approx 60ft long to boundary, then about 20ft under farmers road to manhole where there is stop tap. From there not sure where the water main is.