Building over our water supply pipe?

[Ivor Windybottom]

Our water supply pipe crosses the proposed new detached garage. This supplies us only, it goes directly to our underground water meter. It's a standard blue plastic pipe. There are no joints or couplers along it, I've previously dug down along its whole length to check its route.

I was thinking of diverting it, but this could be fairly complicated as it would involve digging in the neighbouring field. The pipe already crosses this field but doesn't have a wayleave, so I suspect that making any changes could open a legal can of worms and we would end up paying solicitors to make it all official. Plus as it's upstream of the meter it would require the supplier to do all the work and charge us as much as they like, which I'm assuming would be multiples of £1000s, although I haven't asked them (yet at least).

I'd vastly prefer to move it, but I'm thinking that could be expensive.

So... Can I build over it? I can dig to it by hand, so the digger driver can see it, plus lots of spray paint and me watching. We'll be digging beyond its depth, it would end up within the poured concrete.

How to wrap it in conduit? Is split conduit OK for use underground? I guess it needs to be able to be slid out and replaced if renewal is ever required.

Could I unplug it from the meter, shove a pushfit bung on it then thread it through a (bigger) unsplit duct? I guess that would be unauthorised mucking about with the supplier's network though, as it's upstream of the meter.

 

[Deluks]

How long will the built over length be?

If it's just a couple of feet, then any old bit of plastic pipe will do, but if it's a more than say a couple of metres then it might be worth getting a length of blue twinwall conduit, to a) keep the run straight, and b) resist deformation.

Unplug and replug if you dare, have new O-rings on hand just in case.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

The building is 4m wide, plus footing width and it's a bit of a diagonal so 5-6m in total.

I'd prefer a split conduit to save unplugging and potential issues, but only if they're considered adequate for the job.

 

[noseall]

Our water supply pipe crosses the proposed new detached garage. This supplies us only, it goes directly to our underground water meter. It's a standard blue plastic pipe. There are no joints or couplers along it, I've previously dug down along its whole length to check its route.

I was thinking of diverting it, but this could be fairly complicated as it would involve digging in the neighbouring field. The pipe already crosses this field but doesn't have a wayleave, so I suspect that making any changes could open a legal can of worms and we would end up paying solicitors to make it all official. Plus as it's upstream of the meter it would require the supplier to do all the work and charge us as much as they like, which I'm assuming would be multiples of £1000s, although I haven't asked them (yet at least).

I'd vastly prefer to move it, but I'm thinking that could be expensive.

So... Can I build over it? I can dig to it by hand, so the digger driver can see it, plus lots of spray paint and me watching. We'll be digging beyond its depth, it would end up within the poured concrete.

How to wrap it in conduit? Is split conduit OK for use underground? I guess it needs to be able to be slid out and replaced if renewal is ever required.

Could I unplug it from the meter, shove a pushfit bung on it then thread it through a (bigger) unsplit duct? I guess that would be unauthorised mucking about with the supplier's network though, as it's upstream of the meter.

What we often do with a water supply is divert it around the site.
Work out the site footprint. Cut the pipe a good meter or so outside the zone, join it, loop a long pipe around and away from the dig zone and reconnect the other side.
We then say dig (and pour perhaps) the footings then run the pipe favours across the site.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

What we often do with a water supply is divert it around the site.
Work out the site footprint. Cut the pipe a good meter or so outside the zone, join it, loop a long pipe around and away from the dig zone and reconnect the other side.
We then say dig (and pour perhaps) the footings then run the pipe favours across the site.

Is that OK to do on the supplier's (upstream) side of the meter? I thought that would all be out of bounds, as there's potential to bypass the meter if so inclined.

I guess you can fit an insert and coupler onto a pipe flowing at full pressure? I've never tried it before, but I did see them doing this when they first fitted the meter, it didn't look like a big deal really.

 

[mrrusty]

Why not just leave it in place and build over it, and close by put a duct across the new garage with a draw string in. Chances are the pipe will outlive you, and if it does fail, you have a handy method of rerouting it in the future.

 

[noseall]

Is that OK to do on the supplier's (upstream) side of the meter? I thought that would all be out of bounds, as there's potential to bypass the meter if so inclined.

No idea about the geography or layout of yours sorry, particularly if it is shared.

I guess you can fit an insert and coupler onto a pipe flowing at full pressure?

Eh?
We tend to shut it off at the road ST before working on it.

I've never tried it before, but I did see them doing this when they first fitted the meter, it didn't look like a big deal really.

The water company guys have fittings they can couple to a pipe under full bore conditions - yes.

 

[noseall]

Why not just leave it in place and build over it, and close by put a duct across the new garage with a draw string in. Chances are the pipe will outlive you, and if it does fail, you have a handy method of rerouting it in the future.

If the pipe crosses the proposed trenches in a couple of places, it's usually better to temporarily divert the supply prior to getting the digger on site.

 

[Dereekoo]

so where is the boundary box isolation valve located i.e. on your property or before it enters the field

 

[mrrusty]

Y, agreed, but Ivor has said the divert is a PITA and he will hand dig around the pipe. I've pulled MDPE through duct into our garage, then out again to our garden room.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Why not just leave it in place and build over it, and close by put a duct across the new garage with a draw string in. Chances are the pipe will outlive you, and if it does fail, you have a handy method of rerouting it in the future.

That sounds like an excellent idea. Split ducting to (sort-of) protect the old pipe, unsplit ducting next to it ready for any new pipe that's ever needed.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

so where is the boundary box isolation valve located i.e. on your property or before it enters the field

The pipe comes across a field, goes across where I want to build then enters the underground meter/stop tap box. The meter/stop tap isn't on the boundary but is well within, it's set into the path that's next to the house.

 

[Dereekoo]

The pipe comes across a field, goes across where I want to build then enters the underground meter/stop tap box. The meter/stop tap isn't on the boundary but is well within, it's set into the path that's next to the house.

OK just making sure that the supply through the field/your property is WC responsibility and as such you are liable to adhere to whatever conditions they dictate