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Shared Supply Pipe Leak Help in Nottingham

Notts Leak Detection locates a shared supply pipe leak across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and shows which section it is on, so the households who share the pipe know who is paying for what.

Call about a shared pipe Request a quote

Lines open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm.

Engineer listening with a ground microphone in an alley behind Victorian terraced houses in Nottingham

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On a shared supply, one pipe comes off the main and branches to several houses. Severn Trent says Victorian terraces usually share one supply pipe, pre-1940s semis often do, and many council estates were built with one large pipe along the backs of the houses, and that a shared supply pipe is the joint responsibility of every property it serves. A shared supply pipe leak can therefore land on several households at once, and it often shows up on only one of their bills.

The common section and your branch

What matters is where on the shared pipe the leak is. A shared supply has a common section, which every house on it uses, and branches that serve one house each. A leak on the common section is jointly owned. A leak on your branch is yours alone.

That is why the pipe is traced before the leak is located. The route, the branch points and each house’s stop tap are mapped. Once the leak is pinpointed, the report shows which section it is on, and every household gets the same copy.

Repair or separate?

A single leak on the common section can be repaired through one hole with a supply pipe repair. If the shared pipe is old, lead or has leaked before, it may be the time to give each house its own supply. That needs agreement between neighbours and a new connection for each house from Severn Trent, so talk to them early. Shared lead pipes are covered under lead pipe replacement.

What's included

  • Stop tap and meter checks at each house
  • Route of the shared pipe and its branches traced
  • Common section and individual branches identified
  • Leak located and marked
  • Report showing which section is leaking
  • One copy of the report for each household
  • Repair or replacement options priced
  • Option to give each house its own supply

How the options compare

Who pays

Do it yourself
Argued over
Dig-and-hope operator
Whoever called the plumber
Proper leak detection
Clear from where the leak is

Route of the pipe

Do it yourself
Unknown
Dig-and-hope operator
Guessed
Proper leak detection
Traced, with branch points marked

Evidence

Do it yourself
None
Dig-and-hope operator
An invoice to one house
Proper leak detection
A report every household can see

Long-term fix

Do it yourself
Patch and hope
Dig-and-hope operator
Patch
Proper leak detection
Repair, or separate supplies

Related resources

Step by step

What happens, from call to report

  1. Meter and stop taps

    Check each house's stop tap and meter to see how the supply is shared.

  2. Trace the pipe

    Map the common section and where each house branches off.

  3. Locate the leak

    Acoustic listening or tracer gas, then the spot marked on the ground.

  4. Report to everyone

    Which section is leaking, and the repair or replacement options, in one report.

The work

How the work looks

Illustrative photos of the methods and finish described on this page. They are not records of particular customers' jobs.

  • Alley behind a row of terraced houses where a shared water supply pipe runs, Nottingham
    Alley behind a row of terraced houses where a shared water supply pipe runs
  • Row of stop-tap covers in the pavement outside terraced houses with shared supplies, Nottingham
    Row of stop-tap covers in the pavement outside terraced houses with shared supplies
  • Ground microphone on a shared back path, tracing a leak on a shared supply pipe, Nottingham
    Ground microphone on a shared back path, tracing a leak on a shared supply pipe
  • Leak position marked on a path between two neighbouring gardens, Nottingham
    Leak position marked on a path between two neighbouring gardens

Shared pipe leaking? Find out whose section it is.

Shared supply pipe leaks located anywhere in Nottinghamshire.

Lines open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm.

0115 839 0791 Request a quote

Where we work

Where we work in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

Based in Nottingham, we work across the whole county. These towns have their own local pages:

Questions

Shared Supply Pipe Leak: common questions

Who pays for a leak on a shared supply pipe?
Severn Trent says a shared supply is the joint responsibility of every property it serves. A leak on the common section is usually shared between those households. A leak on the branch serving only one house is that household's.

How do I know if my supply is shared?
Your deeds may say, and the water company may hold records. Severn Trent says Victorian terraces usually share one supply pipe, pre-1940s semis often do, and many council estates were built with one large pipe along the backs of the houses. Who is responsible for the water supply pipe covers the signs.

A neighbour won't pay their share. What can I do?
Start with the report, which shows where the leak is and why it is shared. If that doesn't settle it, the Consumer Council for Water or legal advice are the next steps. The water company can still require the leak to be fixed.

Can we split the supply so each house has its own pipe?
Often, yes. Each house then needs its own connection from the water company, so speak to them first about cost and timing. If the shared pipe is lead, their Lead Replacement Scheme may help.

Do you cover my part of Nottinghamshire?
Yes. We cover Nottingham and the rest of Nottinghamshire, including West Bridgford, Beeston, Mansfield, Arnold, Hucknall and Carlton, plus Ilkeston and Long Eaton over the Derbyshire border. Lines are open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm. Call 0115 839 0791 with your postcode and we will confirm.

Are you open 24 hours?
No. Lines are open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. Out of hours, turn off your internal stop tap to stop the flow and call us in the morning. If water is coming up in the road or on the pavement, that is on Severn Trent's side: report it free on 0800 783 4444.

Related

Related services

  • Water Supply Pipe Repair

    One leak on your supply pipe, found and fixed through a single small hole.

    View service

  • Lead Pipe Replacement

    Replace the lead pipe inside your boundary so Severn Trent can reconnect you free under its Lead Replacement Scheme.

    View service

  • Private Leakage Notice

    Got a letter giving you a deadline to fix a leak? Locate it quickly, fix it, and keep proof of the repair.

    View service

Settle whose leak it is, and fix it once.

Call to book, or send a quote request.

Lines open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm.

0115 839 0791 Request a quote
Call 0115 839 0791