How to cover mains water pipe

[JT101]

I am putting in a drive way, and have to deal with services such as mains water. I plan to put crushed hardcore, then the build up of sub-base, bedding layer etc. I have exposed the old lead pipe coming into the property. The question is, how best to protect the pipe from the weight above?
Should I just leave it resting on the soil beneath and cover in gravel, or dig down below the pipe and surround the whole pipe in gravel?
Should I just put a split plastic pipe around it to protect, and then hardcore on top.
Should I somehow box round it?

I know with modern water pipes they should be buried 750mm below the surface, but this pipe is the original lead pipe and is around 300-400mm deep.

Here is a photo with the pipe in the channel dug out on the left hand side: http://thebreadcrumbtrail.org/gallery...._091452

Many thanks

[lemoncurd1702]

Personally mate, while it's exposed I would replace it.

[rxbren]

As above preferably as much as possible all the way to the water meter to your internal stopcock.
Put a little sand down then the pipe then cover with more sand important thing is to make sure no sharp edges are compressed against the pipe

[GB_Groundworks]

Wants replacing at 750mm down in sand surround in mdpe

Weigh the lead in as well



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1458853583

[seanandruby]

Best get it changed to mdpe, ducted and sanded, old lead pipes are a danger to your health and is thought to cause brain damage in kids, that's why most of us older guys are a bit loopy :laugh:

[higgness]

Best get it changed to mdpe, ducted and sanded, old lead pipes are a danger to your health and is thought to cause brain damage in kids, that's why most of us older guys are a bit loopy :laugh:





This explains a lot :p

[GB_Groundworks]

Best get it changed to mdpe, ducted and sanded, old lead pipes are a danger to your health and is thought to cause brain damage in kids, that's why most of us older guys are a bit loopy :laugh:

I saw one study piece about reduction in violent crimes due to lower levels of lead in our bodies, see if I can find it.

http://www.theguardian.com/comment....-export



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1458982128

[JT101]

Ok guys. I think it's a clear consensus. I think I will replace the pipe, but I have two questions.

1) How should I bury the MDPE pipe and where does it mention this anywhere? I have looked at building regs for water part G but there is nothing in there other than the fact that I know it needs to be buried 750mm. But how? Buried in pea shingle, in sand?? And what grade, what depths etc etc.

2) Ok, so I'll replace my lead pipe on my property but I do building work, and if I decide in future to take on someone's drive and they don't want to or can't replace the lead pipe, how should I bury it, going back to my original question. Bearing in mind this situation may well come up and that most are buried quite shallow.
My thoughts would be to encase in split duct, and just bed in gravel 100mm all round before adding hardcore.

Thanks

[rxbren]

Regs are 750mm deep and cover with sand50-100mm of cover should be fine

[seanandruby]

try here
This should help you out

[JT101]

Great guys. Many thanks

[JT101]

Aha, now here's a thing. What about inspection? I can't just swap the lead for MDPE and get up and running can I? I have to have the water company come and inspect my work which will take weeks right?.

[jwill]

the water inspectors are the worst. Just do a pukka job and don't bother involving them. Save yourself the headache. It's a big improvement on what's there!

I usually duct now and pull supply pipe later but as others have said 50-100mm sand over the top and your good to go

[JT101]

Still waiting for Thames Water to confirm if they'll do the lead pipe replacement on their side of the stopcock just outside my boundary. I'll put the lead pipe in a duct in anycase, so that if they say no, I may do it at a future date. Struggling to find a suitable sized split duct. Don't wanna mess around with disconnecting the lead pipe. It looks like an old stop cock, plus the cover is buired in tarmac. Can anyone recommend a suitable duct, or can I just get something else and put a slit in it?

Thanks

[rxbren]

Two options
If you have a meter in the road or just on your boundary switch it off there if the meter is right next t your boundary dig down to it replace pipe from there you don't need a duct the pipe covered in sand is fine. If you have an old stopcoc between the meter and your house don't bother replacing it

If you only have an old stopcock and no other means of turning off the water try to turn the water off. If it turns off cut lead pipe at least 150mm from stopcock fit lead to plastic fitting lay your new pipe.
If the old stopcock don't turn call water board as they will have to replace it (unless there is a water meter in the footpath or outside boundary if there is back to option one)