Water pipe responsibility

If you experience an issue with a water supply pipe, such as a leak, it’s important that you know who is responsible for fixing it.

What water pipes are your responsibility?

You are responsible for:

  • the maintenance of the plumbing inside your property, including all pipework, water tanks, taps and overflows
  • the service pipe from your property to the street boundary including any pipework crossing third-party land.

We are responsible for maintaining the pipework beyond the boundary of your property. This includes service pipes and water mains.

Pipework Responsibility Supply

Our pipework

We maintain it and fix leaks as quickly as we can.

Your private supply pipe

Your responsibility, but we'll help you look after it.

Your pipework and fittings

Your responsibility, and you'll need to contact a plumber if you have any problems with them. Find a plumber

Water main records

We hold maps that show the approximate position of water mains near your property. If you would like to see them, you can request water main records from us.

Request water main records

Electrical earthing

If your property was built before 1966, incoming metal water pipes may have been used as an earth for electrical systems.

The new water pipes we install are plastic and don’t provide an electrical earth.

If you suspect your property may be earthed using a metal water supply pipe, it’s important you contact a qualified electrician for advice.

Help with water leaks

If you have a leak but are unsure what section of pipework it is on, please follow our leakage advice to locate and report it.

Leakage advice