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What was meant to be a simple affair of removing old block paving, rescreeding and relaying of block has turned out to be a monumental affair of water leak finding in the garden.
I've replaced old clay soil pipe(of which two joints were leaking) and the old clay gully (which was cracked) and I'm still getting a puddle in the hole....it takes about an hour to see a noticeable difference in the water level but overnight and its back to the same level I have been battling since I dug the hole.
I understand the ground will be sodden but not to this extent...am I missing something obvious or is it a case of keep digging (I have a mains water feed in the area but loathed to dig that up as it means making a hole in the bathroom floor(ground floor)...Ive just typed this out and I pretty much know what my answer is but does anyone know of another way to find the leak without resorting to such measures(ps. there is no noise or sound of leaking water)....thanks from a very tired and stressed out Dutch.
I had this at a school and it turned out that the water table was really high, a bit like digging on the beach.
If it is refilling overnight are you sure it is a leak as there should be next to no water flowing down the pipe, unless you are actively putting it there.
I would turn off your water for a good while to see if you are producing the water or if it is getting there naturally.
I would love to be able to turn my own properties water off, sadly I can only do this at the stock cock inside the house. Which is useless as I know the leak isn't after this but I can only get to the top of this as its semi sunk in the floor (A friend says this is normal in older properties due to stepping down into the bathroom, but it looks like mine has been screeded and tiled which has brough the level up a few inches)
There is a common feed to all the properties in my 1910 Terrace, was found out when a neighbour tried to get a water meter fitted a few years back, it was using an alarming rate of water and subsequently removed due to them working this out. Only street stop tap is for 7 properties so turning this off for a decent length of time isn't going to happen...especially with some of my neighbours!
I do live on a hill so presume the water table isn't that high as the rest of the valley goes another 30m down from my property. Railway at the bottom of the valley isn't and doesn't ever flood. (Not sure if that is relevant)
I'm not sure its a leak no, I have replaced soil, gully, and waste pipes with new shiny stuff and that doesn't leak so I know what I've done is good......but there is still water.
Dirt at the ends of my repaired section appears dryer than what I've dug out so I presume that means no more leaks from soil pipe.
Get a sample of the water analysed; chlorinated = mains, foul = sewer, and anything else is likely to be natural
It might save you some pain
IF you want to test the integrity of the pipe you can do a pressure test with some special plugging balloons and a gauge. You can probably hire them.
If it is a mains leak my first concern would be what is it doing to the founds of my house. I'm not sure what the responsibility is with shared supplies but seven off one stop tap is not only ridiculous but strikes me as not possible as the pressure drop would be incredible on an old lead service if that was the case. I'd be on to the water supplier.
There's also the possibility that if your homes clay pipework was damaged then some of the neighbours could be in a similar state of disrepair (and that's where the water is coming from)
wrightyson - MemberIf it is a mains leak my first concern would be what is it doing to the founds of my house. I'm not sure what the responsibility is with shared supplies but seven off one stop tap is not only ridiculous but strikes me as not possible as the pressure drop would be incredible on an old lead service if that was the case. I'd be on to the water supplier.
At which point they'll tell you that their responsibility ends at the boundary of the street and you own the pipe.
They should come and do a chlorine test if you call them though (you may also get an enforcement notice if you have a leak which you'll need to repair)
I think they changed the rules for shared supplies so you might get some joy out of the water company.
Also worth checking if they do a free leak repair scheme, have a look on their website.
Funnily enough I'm well aware of the ins and outs of water services, however I don't see one service feeding seven properties with one stop tap as acceptable. I'll be chatting with the stw inspector on Thursday so I'll ask his opinion. As I say ins and outs 😉
It will depend on the dynamic flow rate at the boundary (flow at 10m/h pressure) there's a minimum they're obliged to supply and a minimum static surrogate pressure depending on the number of houses connected to the JSP.
If it's below min standard they'll have to report as a failure to the regulator and remedy by laying a larger diameter pipe (it's my day job to go through these for WW)
Indeed we do suffer from pressure loss occasionally during peak hours but its not usually a major issue and only a few seconds etc. Strange thing is, its not an old lead service pipe. I jest you not, it has 15mm white poly 😯 No idea whats gone on, neither do next door which from where the pipe comes from.(it would appear anyway...more digging would be required to find exactly but all agree its likely to go straight under the fence to their property.)
Very concerned about the foundations to be fair, its emptied as frequent as I can but I doubt its enough.
I'll give South Staffs a ring tomorrow and see if they can come out and test water/pipes...hopefully at least the leak can be found.
Thanks for the advice guys, problem shared and all that. 🙂
white poly underground? probably is leaking then, perhaps a cheap fix by previous occupant?
So by the sounds of it, its worth a call as per my first suggestion. Good luck and don't be fobbed off.
HHowever just bear in mind if they do replace the main you may all end up on a meter (tofarwest will probably know more on that) so that neighbour with the fish pond and hot tub may hate you more 🙄
I'd say if there's any doubt about the pipe and you're laying new blocks then replace it all now while you have the chance. Digging it all up again once you've finished isn't the best idea. It's surprising how many places I've been to that have had leaks on old pipework after having a new drive laid.
I do live on a hill so presume the water table isn't that high
Water table follows the ground profile normally, so being on a hill won't necessarily be any drier.
Artesian water...
Slight update, South Staffs water have told me where to go regarding their cold water supply pipe....get your own contractor in if you think there is an issue was the reply.
Severn Trent were concerned though and I am on a 12 hour period for engineer to come out. Who will be testing sewers and soil....as its such an old property the lady on the phone says she thinks it will be covered and if I've dug 2/3rd of it out then the rest shouldn't be an issue for their team to sort out.
Scrap that, they will be there in 15 mins....sadly I'm at work but the old man is popping round to see them.
Hopefully an update very very soon!!!
Yes I wish to replace it all, like you say toofarwest, it makes sense to do it now rather than later when the block is down.
Severn Trent have come round and they say its ground water.
Everything has pressure tested ok including my repairs so its crack on with back filling and covering apparently.
To say I am relieved is an understatement.
The white poly is now the worry but as its only 8" under what I've already dug out I might as well dig that out to my boundary to see whats going on.