New Water supply pipe - how to get around the requirements!

[Doing it for the kids]

So have planning for a small commercial yard of 3 units which, in time should be around 8.

I applied for one 63mm new connection which I could sub meter off.

Local water board have just rung insisting I need 3 connections and due to the proposed use (toilets and kitchen sink) they want to offer me 3 no 25mm supplies. I am cross, they wont upgrade bore because they only care about volume usage (understandable) and pressures AT THEIR PIPE. they make no allowance for the distance said supply pipes must run and thus if we have pressure issues its down to us to boost our supply.

I think you are not supposed to have private sub meters off the mains now but is the actual law does anyone know?

I am considering asking for a 63mm pipe to feed a water tank on the farm miles away from the connection to justify the bore size and then tapping in as required at a later date.

has anyone else had this problem?

my option is to fit 8 x 25mm water pipes now and run them all in the same trench to future proof things but what a daft expense!

TYIA

 

[Steevo]

Personally I'd be happier with separate supplies billed directly to the tenant. Any leaks, the tenants problem. Any unpaid bills, not your problem.

Also, you can always upgrade your pipe after the meters. You may only have a 25mm meter, but nothing stops you installing 32mm pipework for each supply which would give greater flow.

 

[teslacoils]

If the pipe is all over your land, can you ask for a new main up to the development, then take three or so meters off it a short distance? I believe you can do the groundwork to their spec and have them "adopt" it.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

thanks both. Working on these options. having them adopt stuff makes it more hard to do what you want though I think.

QS and i think we should look at installing 8 stepped up pipes and check that the manifold can be extended in the future, then leave the rest of them capped and buried ready for the future!

still angry about the lack of care they show for pressure drop though!

 

[Speedstar]

thanks both. Working on these options. having them adopt stuff makes it more hard to do what you want though I think.

QS and i think we should look at installing 8 stepped up pipes and check that the manifold can be extended in the future, then leave the rest of them capped and buried ready for the future!

still angry about the lack of care they show for pressure drop though!

This is a mine field, you can not put pipes in for the future only ones that are going to be live, we were told one pipe to one supply end of , 10 bar is the most you will have out of a main , taken down to 6 bar at the working end

 

[Doing it for the kids]

This is a mine field, you can not put pipes in for the future only ones that are going to be live, we were told one pipe to one supply end of , 10 bar is the most you will have out of a main , taken down to 6 bar at the working end

10bar!? They will give me 1 at their end.

plan is to leave the pipes capped off and not lI’ve so as more units come on they can just add onto the existing manifold and add new meters. I’m worried they will get pissy in a few years that pipes not in to right spec or something when previous (now) was fine.

 

[Kidds]

10 bar is the most you will have out of a main , taken down to 6 bar at the working end

I had 14 bar at the working end and that was about a mile from the main through 32mm pipe. It may sound great but caused all sorts of issues.

 

[Steevo]

I had 14 bar at the working end and that was about a mile from the main through 32mm pipe. It may sound great but caused all sorts of issues.

Likewise I had similar. Had to fit a PRV to bring it down to about 5.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Top of a hill here, pipe down with your high pressure chat please!

 

[robs1]

This is the problem when you're honest, should have got the big meter before you got the planning, they arent going to miss the opportunity to charge 8 standing charges are they.

 

[som farmer]

pipes cheap, lay the extra's, you can buy water metres in any good plumbing supplies, once in, they won't even know what you have done, or probably even care,

 

[Doing it for the kids]

This is the problem when you're honest, should have got the big meter before you got the planning, they arent going to miss the opportunity to charge 8 standing charges are they.

now a days they want to know exactly what you need it for so they can work out how much volume you need and if they can charge you an Infrastructure upgrade as well!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

pipes cheap, lay the extra's, you can buy water metres in any good plumbing supplies, once in, they won't even know what you have done, or probably even care,

unless I fit an un registered meter on to their manifold it doesn’t really work though because the existing connections are not going to be man enough to offer the amount of volume needed. Fitting new meters next to theirs will one day attract their attention

 

[robs1]

now a days they want to know exactly what you need it so they can work out how much volume you need and if they can charge you an Infrastructure upgrade as well!

That's why modern life turns us all into liars. We have two houses, the livery and ten smallish industrial units on a 25 mm meter, soon to be three houses was going to upgrade to a bigger one but decided to put the livery on either a bore hole or rain water supply, if the bore hole is ok then everything but the houses might go on that. Will just upgrade the pipe past the meter to the houses and use a tank and pressure boost pump.
Wessex water had me over once p, partly due to useless land agent and I'm.buggered if I'm giving them a penny I dont have to

 

[Doing it for the kids]

True enough.

what annoys me is if the water used is metered why does it bother them if it’s a 25 or 63mm like, as long as I pay for the extra cost of a larger fitting

 

[Exfarmer]

I had 14 bar at the working end and that was about a mile from the main through 32mm pipe. It may sound great but caused all sorts of issues.

Are you sure ? 14 bar equals 200 psi serious pressure

 

[Ukjay]

True enough.

what annoys me is if the water used is metered why does it bother them if it’s a 25 or 63mm like, as long as I pay for the extra cost of a larger fitting

It depends on the main supply carrying capacity (not just for you, but surrounding areas the main feeds). Your 63mm pipe will carry circa 6 times the volume of water that a 25mm mdpe pipe will, therefore as they know how much water will be needed for the properties you have specified, they will see your request as excessive, and they will have plans in place for new developments etc further down the lines to factor in also.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Indeed that’s a lot of pressure!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

It depends on the main supply carrying capacity (not just for you, but surrounding areas the main feeds). Your 63mm pipe will carry circa 6 times the volume of water that a 25mm mdpe pipe will, therefore as they know how much water will be needed for the properties you have specified, they will see your request as excessive, and they will have plans in place for new developments etc further down the lines to factor in also.

agree entirely but big difference between what it can carry and what’s actually consumed.

they don’t care about pressure drop, I think they should or allow others to request over sizing to save pumps and boosters etc.

 

[Kidds]

Are you sure ? 14 bar equals 200 psi serious pressure

Yes, positive.
Usually ran at 10bar at the tap but went to 14 from time to time. Cracked brass taps, fittings pushed off, leaking everything such as washing machines etc overflowing header tanks.
Brilliant when it came to washing anything down in the yard.