Non-motoring > water supply issue Miscellaneous
Thread Author: TheManWithNoName Replies: 20
View Threaded 

New Sat 21 Mar 15 14:54 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
My parents live in the sticks and have about 11 other neighbours. Their water supply suffers from many interruptions during the year all caused by the main supply pipe breaking. This break occurs on the farmer's land. The farmer fixes it himself then bills each resident for their share. Because the pipe is on private land Anglian water are not interested in taking on repairs or issues regarding inconvenince. My parents have taken out specialist insurance to cover costs of these repairs. After one break, my parents told the insurance co who sent their own assessor out to view the work and the repair but the farmer employed his own contractor and wouldn't allow access to any one else. My parents feel the farmer is doing botched repairs and doesn't provide any breakdown of the costs of each repair. They and the neighbours could refuse to pay but the farmer is an obnoxious sod and would probably turn off the supplyif anyone kicks up a fuss. Could the home owners insist the water company take over responsibility? Is there a way to legally ensure their water supply is maintained properly? After all they pay enough for it. Should they seek legal advice from a specialist? Should they get a bore hole?
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 15:38 
 water supply issue - Dog
>>Should they get a bore hole?

Worth considering. We've been here 4 years and get our water from a bore hole, have a septic tank too, so no water charges at all at all. Also have solid fuel heating so it's cheep, cheep living here.

Only had the septic tank emptied once since we've been here.

I have the water tested thoroughly every couple of years to make sure it's fit for ooman consumption.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 15:57 
 water supply issue - sooty123
Could the home owners insist the water company take over responsibility?

It depends what part of the pipe that keeps leaking. If it is the main supply pipe it should be the water companies issue but the private land issue is probably stopping them.

Should they get a bore hole?
>>


I would then they stop being dependant on this chap.
>>
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 16:01 
 water supply issue - No FM2R
>>Should they seek legal advice from a specialist?

Yes.

They are paying the company for a water supply I assume. It would be interesting to see how the water company justifies failing in their duty. It is not your parent's concern how the water gets to their boundary, only that it does.

I don't know the situation with water, although I do about other utilities. With all due respect to the inhabitants, this forum is not the place to get that advice. You need qualified, authoritative advice from someone qualified to give it.

Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 16:15 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
thanks all.
They have a septic tank as well and that needs replacing. Perhaps getting a bore hole and a new tank done at the same time could save them money.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 16:57 
 water supply issue - Focusless
Have they got legal cover with their house insurance that might be used here?

EDIT: ie. in getting some proper advice as suggested by Mark
Last edited by: Focusless on Sat 21 Mar 15 at 16:58
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 17:48 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
Because of the frequency of breaks they took out specific insurance. The assessor was denied access to the land by the farmer to inspect the latest repair. The farmer uses his own plumber/ contractor to do the repairs.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 18:27 
 water supply issue - Manatee
If it's breaking repeatedly and it's not in the same place, then it sounds as if the whole section of pipe has reached the end of its useful life, i.e. needs replacing.

Can't say from here of course, just musing.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sat 21 Mar 15 18:28 
 water supply issue - Cliff Pope

>>
>> They are paying the company for a water supply I assume.

What company? This sounds like a private water supply owned by the farmer.

If it is indeed supplied by an ordinary water comapny then the farmer has no business tinkering with the pipework, and the company will own an easement across his land giving them the right, and the duty, to keep the supply in good order.

The situation sounds unusual.
Reply to this message | Report message
      2  
New Sun 22 Mar 15 16:19 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
Anglian water provides the service but my dad says he has raised the issue with them before and they are not interested because the supply is on the farmers land which is private. Looking at their website it seems they have the right of access and repair. All very odd.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Sun 22 Mar 15 16:32 
 water supply issue - sooty123
I think your dad needs to speak to someone at AW who knows about the access to private land. Start off with a complaint he is paying for something he's not recieveing.
Reply to this message | Report message
      1  
New Sun 22 Mar 15 17:19 
 water supply issue - NortonES2
Two places OP could contact: www.ccwater.org.uk which is the consumer council. Secondly, frequent breakages imply a risk of contamination. Perhaps inform water co of intention to call in Drinking Water Inspectorate and CCW re this situation. That might stir some action.
Last edited by: NortonES2 on Sun 22 Mar 15 at 17:21
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Mon 23 Mar 15 06:43 
 water supply issue - wokingham
Don't mess about with intermediaries. Just go to the man at the top

Anglian Water Services Limited


Mr Peter Simpson Managing Director

Email psimpson@anglianwater.co.uk
Telephone 01522 341000
Website www.anglianwater.co.uk
Social Media T

Postal Address CM20 9HBM
Company Number 02366656C
Company Status Active (Established 01/04/1989)
SIC Code 36000 - Water collection, treatment and supply

Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Mon 23 Mar 15 12:38 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
Thanks Norton and Wokingham. Could prove useful.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Mon 23 Mar 15 13:39 
 water supply issue - Fenlander
>>>Anglian water provides the service but my dad says he has raised the issue with them before and they are not interested because the supply is on the farmers land which is private.


Do you mean AWA provide the water/billing but that they are saying the failing pipe (i.e. the pipe itself as well as the land) on the farmer's land is private and hence the joint responsibility of those that receive the supply??

From your opening comments about the repair billing being shared between users it seems this is indeed the case and therefore AWA are not responsible for the pipe or repairs. AWA's responsibility will usually only be for the element of pipework in the public highway.

We have cousin farmers with just such a setup and they do the repairs and pass costs on. We also owned land where there was a half mile private service down a track with 8 users where all repair costs associated with the lengthy pipe were down to the users.

Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 23 Mar 15 at 13:42
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 13:05 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
I think you've nailed it Fenlander. It seems complex but is probably quite simple. The situation is made harder however by the git of a farmer.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 13:31 
 water supply issue - Fenlander
>>>git of a farmer

It's their job!

Our cousins are not quite gits but their attitude is they have the hassle when a failure occurs, they do the repair immediately dropping other stuff they'd rather do, they do it in the best/cheapest way possible and honestly apportion the cost.

But woe betide anyone who questions their methods... and any insurance assessor would be left to the five collie yard dogs.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 13:51 
 water supply issue - NortonES2
If the water company supply the water, then the provision and maintenance of mains pipework to the curtilage of the user is the responsibility of the water company, who will have wayleaves (or easements) to gain access to the pipeline. IF the water is a public supply, I'd be surprised if they left it to the landowner or tenant to decide when and how to repair the pipe! One might be tempted to think there is a nice little earner in the form of an isolating valve, which the farmer would like to keep out of sight:)
Last edited by: NortonES2 on Tue 24 Mar 15 at 13:53
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 13:58 
 water supply issue - TheManWithNoName
News just in...

A neighbour of my dad's reckons the farmer has an illegal supply pipe going into the woods where he raises his pheasants. I'll bet he won't want AW knowing about that!

nb Apologies if any farmer was offended by my git comment. Not every farmer is bad. Just the ones my parents seem to have been surrounded by in the past 40 years
Last edited by: TheManWithNoName on Tue 24 Mar 15 at 14:01
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 17:57 
 water supply issue - Roger.
Bubble him to AW?
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 24 Mar 15 17:59 
 water supply issue - Cliff Pope
>> Not every farmer is
>> bad. Just the ones my parents seem to have been surrounded by in the past
>> 40 years
>>

In my experience of friends/relations/neighbours it's in the nature of being a farmer to be, shall we say ?, a little devious when it comes to dealing with authority.
Some will have a proper illegal racket going on, some are just naturally gagey and economical with the truth, some just enjoy avoiding going out of their way to cooperate with officials of any kind.

I grew up seeing this from the inside, and I think it somewhat coloured my own attitude to authority. Anyway, I generally get on well with farmers. The main rule is never to make one your enemy.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
Latest Forum Posts