Mains Water Supply & Lead Pipe Replacement London

Water main replacement

Replacing a water main starts with knowing what is there. We locate the existing run, check the material and bore, and test static and running pressure at the stop tap and at the property so we can tell you what the replacement will actually achieve. The new main is laid in blue MDPE at the correct depth with a warning tape and duct where required, connected at the boundary and at the internal stopcock, pressure tested and chlorinated before it is put into service.

• Existing main located and pressure tested first
• Blue MDPE laid at correct depth with warning tape
• Connection at boundary and internal stopcock
• Pressure testing and disinfection before use

Lead water pipe replacement

Lead supply pipes are common in London's Victorian and Edwardian stock and remain the strongest reason to replace a main. Lead narrows with age, gives poor flow and puts lead into drinking water, particularly where water sits in the pipe overnight. We replace the private section from the boundary into the property, coordinate with the water company where the communication pipe is also lead, and remove the redundant pipework rather than leaving it in the ground connected.

• Lead pipe replacement from boundary to stopcock
• Coordination with the water undertaker on the communication pipe
• Redundant lead removed or safely capped
• Flow and pressure re-tested on completion

Underground water main repair and mains leak repair

A rise in the meter reading, a damp patch that never dries, or a drop in pressure usually means an underground leak on the private supply. We trace it first with acoustic and correlation equipment so the excavation is targeted rather than exploratory — see our leak detection service for the full method. Small leaks on serviceable MDPE are repaired locally; a leak on old lead or galvanised pipe is generally a sign the whole run should be replaced rather than patched.

New water supply installation

New supplies are needed for new builds, annexes, garden rooms, commercial units and sites being divided. We handle the private pipework: route and depth, duct and sleeve through structures, meter position agreed with the water company, internal stopcock and isolation, and pressure testing and disinfection before hand-over. Where a supply must cross third-party land or a shared drive we set the route out clearly before work starts so there are no disputes mid-job.

• Supplies to new builds, annexes and commercial units
• Meter position and duct arrangement agreed in advance
• Internal stopcock and isolation installed
• Testing, disinfection and handover records

Shared water main separation

Shared mains — one pipe feeding several houses or flats — cause poor pressure, arguments about bills and difficulty isolating for repairs. Separating them gives each property its own metered supply and its own stopcock. We survey the existing arrangement, agree routes with the owners involved, install individual MDPE supplies and decommission the old shared run, coordinating with the water company on new connections and metering.

Excavation, moling and reinstatement

How the work is done matters as much as the pipe. Where ground conditions allow we mole or directional-drill under drives and lawns so only entry and exit pits are opened, which keeps reinstatement cost down. Where open-cut is unavoidable we lift block paving and slabs carefully for re-laying, backfill properly to avoid settlement, and reinstate the surface. The scope, method and reinstatement standard are set out in the quote before anything is dug.