Water pipe responsibility
If you experience an issue with a water supply pipe, such as a leak, it’s important that you know who is responsible for fixing it.
What water pipes are your responsibility?
You are responsible for:
- the maintenance of the plumbing inside your property, including all pipework, water tanks, taps and overflows
- the service pipe from your property to the street boundary including any pipework crossing third-party land.
We are generally responsible for water mains and the pipes supplying your water between the water main and the edge of the street in which the water main is laid.
Water main records
We hold maps that show the approximate position of water mains near your property. If you would like to see them, you can request water main records from us.
Electrical earthing
If your property was built before 1966, incoming metal water pipes may have been used as an earth for electrical systems.
The new water pipes we install are plastic and don’t provide an electrical earth.
If you suspect your property may be earthed using a metal water supply pipe, it’s important you contact a qualified electrician for advice.
Help with water leaks
If you have a leak but are unsure what section of pipework it is on, please follow our leakage advice to locate and report it.
