Water Mains Pipe Repair
Once the water leak underground has been detected we can either carry out a water pipe repair or install new underground water mains piping. If the leak is visible, we will excavate to locate and examine the mains water pipes to assess whether the water pipe can be repaired or requires replacement to solve the problem.
Although conditions are often quite poor due to the water pipe leakage, our engineers are always very careful to respect and protect our customers’ property. Excavated spoil is either put onto ground sheets, or into containers, to minimise soiling the surfaces.
When the water mains pipe repair is completed, the excavated soil is re-used, if suitable, or removed from site.
Our engineers are also trained in the reinstatement of all surfaces, so that the mains repair will usually be completed in one visit. Should ground conditions be very poor and the affected area be used by pedestrians or vehicles, we will either use fresh backfill material or use soil stabiliser, which firms up wet spoil.
Moling Water Mains – Impact Moling
By using moling techniques for water mains pipes we avoid open cut trenches for installing, renewing and the repair of water mains pipes in a very cost-effective manner.
An impact mole is an air-driven device which is launched from a small pit (usually 2.5m x 1 m), which punches its way through the ground to a receiving pit enabling new water mains piping to be installed. The soil is compacted outwards to create a smooth, almost glazed, bore which allows the water pipes to be installed quickly, without an unsightly trench. Apart from the small launch/receive pits, there is very little disruption and no visible piping!
Moling can create a bore under most surfaces or obstacles, lawns, hedges driveways, roads, ditches etc and can be used to install various pipes, cables or ducting.
H2flow have a variety of different size moles for different installation
Lead Water Pipe Replacement
Lead pipes can cause health issues and the lower bore often results in poorer water supply.
Our engineers can replace your existing lead water pipe quickly and efficiently, from the boundary to the rising main stopcock within the property, using impact moling.
We install a new MDPE (blue poly) water replacement supply pipe, to comply with your local Water Authority regulations, and the disruption to your supply will typically be only 20 – 40 mins.
How Do I Know If I Have Lead Pipes
Lead if (unpainted) looks dull grey, similar to some iron, but is soft and if scratched with a screwdriver, will reveal brighter metal. It also usually has the swollen joint just below the stopcock.
Problems with Lead Issues
Health Issues
The Governments Drinking Water Inspectorate (consumer/advice leaflets) warns that lead is toxic and can build up in the body, particularly in young children and pregnant women. It interferes with the metabolism of calcium and Vitamin D, affects the central nervous system, can effect mental well-being and produce behavioural problems.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also lists lead as a possible human carcinogen – (Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality/ Chemical Facts sheets/ toxological review) and states that most lead in water arises from plumbing, and the remedy is to remove plumbing and fittings containing lead.
Poor Water Supply
As lead is a soft metal, the pipe wall is thicker to withstand the pressure. This usually results in the internal bore being smaller and restricted. In turn, this limits the volume of water , so when several appliances are run at the same time, the flow noticeably fades away.
