Plumbing

Moving location of water mains stop tap

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.46 PM

Hi, I have stop tap in my rear garden and I want to move outside from the planned rear extension that have not build yet. I raised the query with water company and got following response: I can confirm your property is on a shared water supply with numbers 6X 6X & 6X. We do not have maps of where boundary stop taps are located, they can be inside the boundary, although they are usually situated in the footpath outside the property, they can get covered over the years by the Council or other utility companies. I believe your one may be in the vicinity of number X. (2) Although XXX Water is responsible for the boundary stop taps, we do not use them anymore therefore do not maintain them. It would be impossible to guarantee they would work if you went to use them, it is a legal requirement for all properties to have an operable internal stop tap that is regularly maintained that can be used in the event of an emergency or for internal plumbing work, you should not rely on the boundary ones. It would appear the supply pipes to your properties, the pipes that run from the boundary and into the property, do run along the rear gardens. All of these pipes are private and the responsibility of the owners, not the water company. You do not need our permission to work on private stop taps or pipes however, if you build over these, it could pose a problem if a leak ever occurred on one of them. Also you would only be able to move the private stop tap to the existing pipe. It would be advisable to maintain access to the pipe and stop taps. I just want to know how complex this job is and how much exta cost will add to my project. Thanks in advance. Edit = Thanks for your ansewer. Please look at the paragraph marked as 2 from water company. How can plumber stop water if boundry stop tap is not in working conditions? Is any way plumber can stop water in case boundry stop tap is not working? Regards,