Water Supply Pipe FAQ
Why am I responsible for the water supply pipe to my property?
Anglian Water’s legal responsibility for water supply pipes ends at the boundary of the public highway. The owner of the property is responsible for the supply pipe from the boundary of the public highway all the way into their home, even if this crosses other privately or publicly owned property before entering the customer’s property.
In most cases, the boundary of the public highway where Anglian Water’s responsibility ends is also the boundary of the customer’s own property.
Do Anglian Water Services do free repairs to water supply pipes?
Anglian Water may be able to offer a free repair service to domestic customers in the event of a leak affecting their water supply pipe. This is a limited, non emergency service and is only available once in the property’s lifetime. Other Terms and Conditions apply – for more details about this service click here.
Anglian Water Direct, in partnership with Homeserve, is able to provide customers with an enhanced level of cover for water supply pipes. The product provides an emergency response in the event of a burst or leak – for more information about this product, click here.
How can I tell if I have a leak on my water supply pipe?
If you are a metered customer, identifying if you have a leak on your water supply pipe is relatively simple. Turn off the internal mains stop tap (often located under the kitchen sink, in a utility room or ground floor bathroom). Lift the lid off the meter chamber, which is usually situated near the property boundary, and observe the meter dial. If the numbers are still turning it is likely there is a leak between the meter and the internal stop tap.
If you have no meter, identifying whether you have a leak is more difficult. You will probably first be aware of reduced water pressure within the property. You may also find water coming to the surface on a driveway, which will be more noticeable in dry weather. You may also see water running in a drain when you lift an inspection chamber. If you have low water pressure and suspect you may have a leak, call Anglian Water Services on 08457 145 145.
Who is responsible for shared water supply pipes?
Many older properties share a supply pipe with neighbouring properties. Anglian Water’s responsibility still ends at the boundary of the public highway. Customers are jointly responsible with their neighbours for the section of supply pipe that serves their own property. Customers have no responsibility for the pipe downstream of their own property. To see a diagram showing typical examples, click here.
Will Homeserve cover shared water supply pipes?
Homeserve water supply pipe cover will provide cover for shared water supply pipes within your own property boundary. For leaks on a shared water supply pipe before the pipe reaches your property, Homeserve will usually reimburse your share (rateable proportion) of the costs to repair the pipe, within their normal cover limits.
