The Mains Water Supply To The Home

Water to our homes is supplied by the various regional Water Suppliers. They’re responsible for delivering ‘portable’ basically clean wholesome water that is fed via the water mains to our homes. The water we receive may go through a number of processes to make sure it is clean and fit for drinking. These include filtering, chlorination, and the addition of fluoride. Trunk mains run underground to supply a series of principal and local mains. Barnet Plumbers understand all systems and can give advice and a professional plumbing service . The mains supply is buried at a depth to ensure that they are not affected by outside forces like lorries and severe cold. Water mains used to be made from asbestos cement, or cast iron. Nowadays PVC is used and you will see these blue pipes where new or replacement mains are being laid. Connection to the local main is made via special isolating valves which can be added without having to switch off the supply to the rest of the road. This allows a supply to a new house to be made without interfering with the water to other buildings in the road. A water pipe is laid underground from this valve to just outside the property’s boundary where an external stop valve is fitted. Access to the stop valve is provided by an access chamber which is a vertical pipe and has a cover at the top usually marked to make identification easier. From this stop valve the supply pipe continues towards the house and this part is referred to as the service pipe which is the responsibility of the home owner. The Service Pipe is normally made of medium density polyethylene (MDPE). This Service Pipe continues underground until it is inside the building. The service pipe should be sleeved where it passes under the building and, as it rises up it will also be insulated to protect it from frost damage. The water meter may be fitted externally or internally. Your local Barnet Plumber has all the knowledge and skill to advise on water supply and management.