Replace 60s lead service pipe or leave alone?

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23vc

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60s place with a lead pipe coming from boundary stopcock on pavement, under about 6m of drive then converts to plastic before entering house.
I’m going to be digging up old tarmac drive and block paving it, so figured now would the time to replace the pipe with MDPE. As I understand it only the water provider (Severn Trent) are allowed to make the connection at their end, but I think I can get it done under their lead replacement scheme.

Question is, do people normally bother doing this at all? It’s a decent chunk of extra work for me to dig the 750mm trench, avoiding smashing into the existing lead pipe along the way. But if there’s some risk to me and the family regularly necking plenty of tap water, then obviously it’s something I’ll do.
 
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I would replace it now. Was working at a property last year where a builder was doing an extension . Water started seaping up through the block paving on the pathway. Dug down to expose the lead water main which was corroding due to contaminated back fill.
 
23vc said:
It’s a decent chunk of extra work for me to dig the 750mm trench, avoiding smashing into the existing lead pipe along the way.
Click to expand...

Take a route so as to avoid it. Best done now, rather than dig the drive back up later - doubling the cost.
 
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Ask the water company to test your drinking water for lead content. This might qualify you for lead replacement scheme.

Ask now

It must be done before you start work.

If your house was built in 1960s the lead is surely older

And the blue plastic newer.
 
Yeah, when I built the extension 7 years ago, I chopped the lead just outside the building perimeter and converted it to plastic via a philmac. I’ve since exposed that again and will speak to Severn Trent to try and get it done by their lead replacement scheme. They’ll probably have an issue with the fact that the lead replacement is only up to the philmac and not all the way to the internal stopcock, but it’d be a bit harsh if they won’t do the replacement.
The scheme just means they’d connect at their end for free, I’ve still gotta do all the digging.
Not sure what my options are if they say it doesn’t qualify and I still want to lay and connect mdpe.
 
Last edited:
Is there a stopcock or water meter in the pavement?
 
I've known people tunnel under the boundary to reach it.

If there is not already a water meter, you could ask for one and provide a new pipe to connect to it.
 
Had a bit of a mare with this, despite Severn Trent initially being helpful and instructing me to dig a trench to 750mm, insulate and duct the pipe where it is less than 750mm, fit an internal drain cock, bed the pipe on sand, fit stop end etc, at the final hour the bloke’s supervisor decided they won’t touch it unless I smash a new hole in my floor for a 110mm duct identical to the one I’ve already got, but at 150mm deeper.

Obviously, that ain’t going to happen, and they’re categorically saying they won’t touch this under their lead replacement scheme (or in any other sense) so I’m on my own. (I know you can get those ground breaker box things to fit to the wall but I’m not going to go there).

I might have slightly taken an underground peek beyond my boundary by a few inches, and revealed what I’m sure is a philmac lead to plastic transition elbow. Quandary I’m in, is do I cut the lead just within my boundary and convert to plastic, meaning I still have about 6” of lead pipe in the system, or do I undo this elbow on the lead side and replace it with the nut of another newly bought fitting of the same type and shove my new mdpe in? I know I’m on dodgy ground but i know what I’m tempted to do. Anyone got any thoughts? These fittings tend to be hand tight rather than using grips don’t they? Cheers
 

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Actually, looking at the spec for these fittings, I think I’d need to replace the whole elbow in order to use my 25mm mdpe, so I think I’ll just cut and join to the lead on my boundary line. Bit of a pain as I doubt they’ll ever replace that bit but guess it doesn’t really matter.
 
I think I can use a small length of 32mm MDPE, and swap the lead in the picture for it, and keep the same fitting (will buy a new identical fitting with a new seal, nut etc). From reading the philmac tech details, it looks like it's fine to use MDPE on the UTC end of the fitting. I'll make room to get a wrench in to nip it up. I'll then reduce the 32mm to 25mm on my side. If anyone can confirm how much of a silly idea this is that'd be great ;)
 
If you can turn off the supply at the Stoptap in the Pavement, then I'd swap out that elbow and carry on as you were, as long as you're happy with what you're doing.

Sounds like the ST Guy is being a Jobsworth.
 
Hugh Jaleak said:
If you can turn off the supply at the Stoptap in the Pavement, then I'd swap out that elbow and carry on as you were, as long as you're happy with what you're doing.

Sounds like the ST Guy is being a Jobsworth.
Click to expand...
All done, and after a brief scare when I turned it back on and the water p1ssed out of the fitting I nipped it up more and all seems good. Will continue to keep an eye then back fill it. Thanks, that was not an enjoyable one.
 
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