Minimum depth of water pipe

[MrsP]

I’ve got a question about pipe depth. My old incoming water pipe is leaking but is below the neighbour’s subsequent big drainage pipe running across it and is hard to access, on a narrow pedestrian lane in a conservation area. (The experienced plumbers I got in dug down so far then backed away and said it would require machinery.) I'm wondering if a solution might be to lay modern piping above the drainage pipe at less than the specified depth with some sort of insulation against frost - is this ever done, does anyone know? Thanks!

 

[Ric2013]

The favourite city and guilds exam question, the only one I remember lol

And the maximum distance from the end of a gutter to the first bracket must not exceed 150mm. 4 marks out of 20 in the rainwater exam for knowing that!

 

[townfanjon]

And the maximum distance from the end of a gutter to the first bracket must not exceed 150mm. 4 marks out of 20 in the rainwater exam for knowing that!

Lol , never heard that one

 

[chris watkins]

The Water Regulations 1999 state that a water main laid less than 750mm or more than 1350mm deep has to be notified to the local Water Undertaker it does not say it can't be done.
Pipes can be insulated to provide the required protection, indeed every service pipe that enters a building at some point is less than 750mm deep.
There are proprietary systems available which allow water mains to exit the ground outside the building foundations just as you would with a gas or electrical service & then enter above ground level.

 

[chris watkins]

MrsP find yourself an Approved Plumber (ask your local Water UnderTaker for a list) They will guide you through giving notice & what will likely be required. It takes 10 working day's . If they don't respond either to grant or grant with conditions then it is deemed to be granted & the plumbers can proceed.

 

[sammathias]

I would get someone in to mole it....like mentioned above. Saves digging/backfilling and alot of cementing back in. That is of course if you plan on replacing a big section of your.main.

 

[Ric2013]

MrsP find yourself an Approved Plumber (ask your local Water UnderTaker for a list) They will guide you through giving notice & what will likely be required. It takes 10 working day's . If they don't respond either to grant or grant with conditions then it is deemed to be granted & the plumbers can proceed.

True, but I think they can still ask you to do it again, only thing is you can't be held responsible for not informing them. If so, it's a crazy situation, but hey ho.

FWIW, a plumber I know hit solid slate a little before 750mm, asked Dwr Cymru for permission to lay the pipe more shallow, and was refused permission.

 

[Jim Goodenough]

There's another depth I seem to remember "6' under" 😵

 

[Ric2013]

Of course. 6' under is deeper than water pipes are laid, so unlikely to be disturbed.

 

[Old UKPF 99921]

Personally I wouldn’t have the pipe moled unless you know where all your other services are. We had a new water main laid into our property, and ended up opting for it being dug in.

All the companies that moled the pipes said that if they hit someone whilst doing it, they weren’t liable, unless you gave them plans of where the services lay in the first place.

 

[Rob Foster]

The view from here is that quite honestly nobody really will know if you relay the mains plastic above below or by the side of the whatever, I am all for regulations god knows my company jump,thro hoops with wras etc. If it’s was my job just get on with it In the best most economical way and just bury it and move on