Short answer: Water supply pipe replacement in Nottingham is quoted at £388–£598 for a typical run, and Severn Trent says it can cost up to £3,000. Moling under a drive is listed at £1,200–£3,000+ in Nottinghamshire. Length, depth, the surface on top and whether the pipe is lead or shared set the price.
Water supply pipe replacement cost depends mostly on how far the pipe runs, how deep it is and what sits on top of it. A short run across a lawn is at the bottom of the range. A long run under a block-paved drive, or a lead pipe on a shared supply, sits at the top.
Published prices
| Job | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Supply pipe replacement (Nottingham quotes) | £388–£598 | hamuch |
| Full water main replacement (Nottinghamshire) | £1,000–£2,500+ | Checkatrade |
| Moling a new pipe (Nottinghamshire) | £1,200–£3,000+ | Checkatrade |
| Lead pipe replacement (Nottinghamshire) | £600–£1,500 | Checkatrade |
| Supply pipe replacement, upper end | up to £3,000 | Severn Trent |
The ranges overlap because they measure slightly different jobs. The lower hamuch figures reflect straightforward quotes. The Checkatrade bands include longer runs and trenchless work.
What moves the price
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Length of the run | The biggest single factor: more pipe, more digging or moling |
| Depth | The pipe is laid 750mm–1,350mm deep under the Water Fittings Regulations, so every trench goes that deep |
| Surface on top | Lawn is cheapest to reinstate; block paving, tarmac and concrete cost more |
| Method | Moling avoids reinstating a drive but needs two pits and suitable ground |
| Connections | Access to the boundary stop tap and the internal stop tap at each end |
| Shared supply | More houses, more connections, and agreement needed |
Want a price for your run?
A survey measures the route and prices trench and mole side by side.
Trench or mole
An open trench is simple across lawns and borders. Moling pulls the new pipe underground between two small pits, leaving a drive or path intact. A trench can look cheaper until you add the cost of relaying block paving or patching tarmac along the whole route. Water pipe moling explains when it works and when the ground rules it out.
If the old pipe is lead
Homes built before 1970 may have lead supply pipes. Under Severn Trent‘s Lead Replacement Scheme, once you replace the lead on your side, it can give you a free new connection and replace its own lead up to the boundary. You only pay for your side. The connection can take up to 16 weeks, so apply before the work starts. See what lead pipe replacement costs.
Getting some money back
Insurance rarely pays for a replacement pipe, because a worn-out pipe is treated as maintenance. If the replacement follows a leak, though, Severn Trent offers a one-off leakage allowance once the leak is repaired, covering up to 12 months or two bills based on actual meter readings. Keep the invoice. How the Severn Trent leak allowance works covers the claim.
For the job itself, see water supply pipe replacement.
Bottom line
Expect a few hundred pounds for a short, straightforward run and up to around £3,000 for a long one under hard surfaces. If the old pipe is lead, line up the free reconnection first. Insurance rarely pays for a new pipe, but the leakage allowance can refund the water you lost. Call 0115 839 0791, 9am–7pm, 7 days.