I have a shared supply pipe
On some older properties, the water pipe from the stop tap in the street branches to supply two or more properties – this is known as a shared supply pipe. The stop tap in the street will usually sit in a chamber at ground level. Look for a steel or cast iron lid to indicate its location. You and your neighbours can confirm if you share a water supply by locating the stop tap in the street and turning it off. Those of you without water are probably sharing a water supply pipe.
Who is responsible for fixing a water leak on your shared supply? To determine who is responsible for fixing a leak on a shared supply, you will first need to establish what type of work is required - repair, replacement or installation of a separate supply. If the problem can be resolved simply by making a repair, all of the properties beyond the point of the leak will be responsible for this. If the pipe needs to be replaced, every property on the shared supply will be jointly responsible. Alternatively, you may choose to disconnect yourself from the shared supply to install a separate pipe direct to our water main. These options are all explained further in the links below.