Shared water suppy and comb boilers

[ECH0210]

Hello!
Hoping someone might be able to get us out of the circles we're going round in! We are currently undertaking a side return extension to our Victorian end of terrace. Ground floor kitchen and bathroom. We've discovered that we have a shared water supply with our neighbours - our internal stopcock also controls their water. Both houses are fed through a 15mm lead pipe which comes through our kitchen, then splits after this and supplies our bathroom and next door's house. We plan to install a combi boiler off the mains supply for our water and heating - the old water tank in the loft and separate water heater in the bathroom are now long gone.

Basically, we are trying to understand whether our combi-boiler plans will work with this joint supply? Our builder has suggested we could get a new, larger pipe connected to the Thames Water stopcock outside our house. This new pipe would still feed both houses. New mains supply is cost prohibitive as the mains run on the opposite pavement...road closure...parking restrictions...too expensive.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Is our builders suggestion the correct/best solution?

Thanks,
Liz

 

[macackau]

You need your own water supply, if it's an old lead pipe it needs to be replaced anyway.

Your builder is right in suggesting a new water pipe, you would need a 25mm MDPE pipe as a minimum running to your house.

 

[snowhead]

It sounds like a no go to a Combi due to flow rate.

You need someone qualified to fit a Combi to assess the incoming mains flow / pressure.

If you're having a side / return extension, the cost of a dedicated new supply is minimal in comparison and will solve potential future problems.

It may be worth speaking to your neighbour re moving their supply out of your house whilst you're having excavations.

 

[stani]

While the building work is being done it may be possible under the lead replacement scheme to have a new supply free.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

if its lead get in contact with your local water board and they might and i mean might replace it for free (stress that next doors water main is connected to yours)

 

[ShaunCorbs]

While the building work is being done it may be possible under the lead replacement scheme to have a new supply free.

great minds think alike 😀

 

[plumben]

theres nothing stopping you from disconecting next doors cw supply and leaving the with no water.
therefore the watersupplier MUST provide seperate supplies to the boundrys of both propertys

 

[stani]

There might be nothing stopping you from disconnecting but it definitely wouldn't make for good relations with your neighbours

 

[plumben]

There might be nothing stopping you from disconnecting but it definitely wouldn't make for good relations with your neighbours

im not saying id do that id just mention it when talking to the waterboard

 

[ShaunCorbs]

theres nothing stopping you from disconecting next doors cw supply and leaving the with no water.
therefore the watersupplier MUST provide seperate supplies to the boundrys of both propertys

thats got to take the biscuit, and the home-owner would prob left with the bill

 

[plumben]

thats got to take the biscuit, and the home-owner would prob left with the bill

why would the home owner get the bill
we pay are water SUPPLY rates for a reason

 

[ShaunCorbs]

why would the home owner get the bill
we pay are water SUPPLY rates for a reason

termination of someone elses water supply 😉 so they would get a bill for reconnecting the water supply

 

[plumben]

termination of someone elses water supply 😉 so they would get a bill for reconnecting the water supply

surely unless theres some agreement in suppliers contract. you have no responsibilty to supply your neighbour with water via inside your property if you had a leak your neighbour would be screwed

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Anyway, back to OP. Best to get it done properly Liz, lead mains are 19 oatcake, get a larger bore MDPE pipe brought in and they should separate it before it comes into your house.