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Water leak

A virtual pub for off topic, light hearted pub related banter and discussion. No trainers
Gerry557
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Water leak

#706162

Postby Gerry557 » January 15th, 2025, 5:42 pm

Whilst out walking we came across a water leak, normally there is a website to easily report such things so I got my mobile out to do the right thing.

Someone else thought it might be the nearest home owners responsibility and knocked on their door. An old lady answered, she said she had tried to report it on the phone as another person had also knocked on her door. The water company said it wasn't an issue as no one else had reported it.

I find this a strange attitude. Apparently they asked her some additional questions but she informed them that due to her age and the weather (snow n ice) she hadn't been out to look at it.

No wonder water services are so poor. Checking the water company website for local issues, it says there is low pressure reported :lol:

Urbandreamer
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Re: Water leak

#706167

Postby Urbandreamer » January 15th, 2025, 5:51 pm

Gerry557 wrote:Whilst out walking we came across a water leak, normally there is a website to easily report such things so I got my mobile out to do the right thing.

Someone else thought it might be the nearest home owners responsibility and knocked on their door. An old lady answered, she said she had tried to report it on the phone as another person had also knocked on her door. The water company said it wasn't an issue as no one else had reported it.

I find this a strange attitude. Apparently they asked her some additional questions but she informed them that due to her age and the weather (snow n ice) she hadn't been out to look at it.

No wonder water services are so poor. Checking the water company website for local issues, it says there is low pressure reported :lol:


I too find it strange. As I have personally reported such a water leak by phone. They wanted to know who I was, presumably to reduce false reports. Where it was, there was some issues with the resolution of the map. But after that they noted the details down.
A week later there were people repairing it, though it did take at least a week.

Did you report it yourself, or accept the old ladies statement.

How long ago was this, and is the leak now fixed or still existent?

88V8
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Re: Water leak

#706190

Postby 88V8 » January 15th, 2025, 7:31 pm

Gerry557 wrote:....The water company said it wasn't an issue as no one else had reported it....

Have encountered this attitude when reporting that the water has gone off.
'No one else has reported it'.
I have to point out that there are only four cottages in the lane and some of the occupants work.

V8

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Re: Water leak

#706191

Postby Lootman » January 15th, 2025, 7:35 pm

Gerry557 wrote:Whilst out walking we came across a water leak, normally there is a website to easily report such things so I got my mobile out to do the right thing.

Someone else thought it might be the nearest home owners responsibility and knocked on their door. An old lady answered, she said she had tried to report it on the phone as another person had also knocked on her door. The water company said it wasn't an issue as no one else had reported it.

I cannot imagine that a home owner has any legal responsibility for pipes outside their property, and so has no obligation to report it.

That said the one time I reported a local leak both fire and water crews were dispatched, and I was interviewed by the press. :D

Gabriel
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Re: Water leak

#706242

Postby Gabriel » January 15th, 2025, 11:16 pm

It's a good thing you tried to report it right away, but it's disappointing that the water company didn’t take it seriously, especially considering the situation with the lady. Maybe they should have a more proactive approach to these things, especially in bad weather.

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#706263

Postby Gerry557 » January 16th, 2025, 7:34 am

When reporting via the website, it's asked to include a small video. Unfortunately it then wouldn't allow it to be uploaded. At the time I didn't want to spend that time fiddling with my phone plus it's failure meant I had to start the whole reporting process again.

I didn't ask when the lady initially reported it, possibly caused by the thaw so a couple of days maybe.

I will go back on there website later today to see if it's showing as an issue on the map. It wasn't as of late yesterday.

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#706434

Postby Gerry557 » January 16th, 2025, 5:46 pm

Urbandreamer wrote:
Gerry557 wrote:Whilst out walking we came across a water leak, normally there is a website to easily report such things so I got my mobile out to do the right thing.

Someone else thought it might be the nearest home owners responsibility and knocked on their door. An old lady answered, she said she had tried to report it on the phone as another person had also knocked on her door. The water company said it wasn't an issue as no one else had reported it.

I find this a strange attitude. Apparently they asked her some additional questions but she informed them that due to her age and the weather (snow n ice) she hadn't been out to look at it.

No wonder water services are so poor. Checking the water company website for local issues, it says there is low pressure reported :lol:


I too find it strange. As I have personally reported such a water leak by phone. They wanted to know who I was, presumably to reduce false reports. Where it was, there was some issues with the resolution of the map. But after that they noted the details down.
A week later there were people repairing it, though it did take at least a week.

Did you report it yourself, or accept the old ladies statement.

How long ago was this, and is the leak now fixed or still existent?


Yes I reported it myself, this was while somebody else spoke with the lady so I have no reason to doubt her. Yes its still leaking I revisited today but someone from the water company appears to have visited as there is a blue square marked on the pavement presumably where they need to dig to find the leak.

So some action has happened within 24 hours and there is a pin on the map where the incident is. There is a "click here" button for more information but this just opens up a general how they will fix it and clear up page nothing about the actual event or timescales to fix or scale of leak etc.

At least its be looked at. :D

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Re: Water leak

#706583

Postby didds » January 17th, 2025, 11:49 am

My own cynical 2p, not expecting to be shared by anybody, is that as water companies in the UK are privatised, any action that costs money is to be minimised, which includes repairing faults. So my cynicism suggests rep[air crews are kept at a skeleton crew staffing level so nothing can be dealt with quickly aside from the direst emergencies, which of course then just bumps the less serious stuff - like the Op - down the line. Hence no time scales.

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Re: Water leak

#706601

Postby Alaric » January 17th, 2025, 12:51 pm

didds wrote:My own cynical 2p, not expecting to be shared by anybody, is that as water companies in the UK are privatised, any action that costs money is to be minimised, which includes repairing faults.


If my experience with Thames Water is anything to go on, they've outsourced much of it. Individual contractors can be very competent, but overall direction is lacking.

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#706609

Postby Gerry557 » January 17th, 2025, 1:41 pm

didds wrote:My own cynical 2p, not expecting to be shared by anybody, is that as water companies in the UK are privatised, any action that costs money is to be minimised, which includes repairing faults. So my cynicism suggests rep[air crews are kept at a skeleton crew staffing level so nothing can be dealt with quickly aside from the direst emergencies, which of course then just bumps the less serious stuff - like the Op - down the line. Hence no time scales.


I would expect costs to be minimised. Also for repairs to be graded in some sort or priority order with a higher one given to those that cause water outages or damage. Bigger leaks over smaller etc. Maybe the cold spell has made thing worse. I wonder what the maximum timescale for repair of a low priority leak would or should be.

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#706943

Postby Gerry557 » January 19th, 2025, 4:19 pm

Had another wander and its still leaking. I assume it a low priority but still think it a long time for the continuous flow of water. Im not sure how they would measure the amount lost. I suppose its Sunday (double time) so hopefully there will be some movement at the start of next week.

Im glad its not flowing onto my property.

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Re: Water leak

#706959

Postby SPURLEY » January 19th, 2025, 8:02 pm

I think Didds is spot on .

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Re: Water leak

#706963

Postby Imbiber » January 19th, 2025, 8:30 pm

It's been days. It takes weeks here. Burst main, frost, ice, cars slid off road. Don't hold your breath.

didds
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Re: Water leak

#706969

Postby didds » January 19th, 2025, 10:45 pm

SPURLEY wrote:I think Didds is spot on .



bottom line also is that unlike energy & telecoms (FWTW!) you cany change your water supplier. So if you report something and they take 6 months to fix it you cant vote with your feet .

(yes im aware that its a concoluted scenario with telecoms and energy...)

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#706982

Postby Gerry557 » January 20th, 2025, 7:55 am

I suppose I'm thinking of this too simplistically.

Send someone to check and mark hole/leak
Dig a hole
Repair pipe
Fill in hole.

They need a team of people just to answer the phones and deal with the website enquiries plus all the updating on the leakage incident map that's difficult to find and almost tells you nothing of any use apart from something is happening at that spot.

They then send a team of specialists to locate said reported incident, checking for possible further damage, flooding and the like. Approach other utilities to see who else might have vested interests in said hole. That team is probably about as useless as the water companies. Sort out planning permission and then set up a week of traffic lights on a 4 way system for maximum hinderance even though the leak is on a footpath on a quiet cul de sac

Spend another week mulling if they should just repair the bit of pipe with the leak or the whole section, them victorians didn't make things last.

Once the repair is done wait a week so it can be inspected by all interested parties.

Fill in the hole but don't make it the same as the surroundings, can't have a proper job. Then wait for the nearest homeowner to moan that the hole has sunk and his car is stuck in the drive.

Involve the team of people answering the phones ............... :D

Gerry557
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Re: Water leak

#707159

Postby Gerry557 » January 21st, 2025, 11:11 am

The leak is no more. There is a big hole with a clamped pipe at the bottom.

I feel better now that we might have some water left come summer.

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Re: Water leak

#707909

Postby chas49 » January 25th, 2025, 11:20 pm

Moderator Message:
This also didn't belong in Comfort Cafe. Moved to the Snug (chas49)


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