Home › Guides · Updated 21 October 2026

Who is responsible for which water pipes? A UK homeowner's guide

Where the water company's responsibility ends and yours begins: water mains, communication pipes, supply pipes, shared supply pipes, stop taps and meters, plus what happens if a leak is on your side of the boundary.

When water is leaking, the first question is often "is this my problem or the water company's?" The answer depends on exactly which pipe is affected, and the boundaries aren't always obvious because most of the pipework is buried. This guide explains the standard split of responsibilities in England and Wales, based on guidance from the regulator, Ofwat, and the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).

The three types of water pipe

Ofwat describes three types of clean water pipe:

1. Water mains: the large company pipes that distribute water around the network, often but not always under roads.
2. Communication pipes: these carry water from the main to the boundary of private property. Where a company stop tap is fitted, usually in the footpath, it normally marks where the company's pipework ends and the property owner's begins.
3. Supply pipes: the smaller pipes that run from the property boundary into the property, up to the first water fitting or stop tap inside.

The usual split

This reflects Ofwat's table and CCW's summary, which adds that the water company is responsible for the meter if there is one and for the external stop tap usually located in the public footpath.

A supply pipe under the road

One detail surprises people. Ofwat's table shows that a supply pipe serving a single property is the property owner's responsibility whether it is laid under the highway, the owner's land or someone else's land. This mainly arises where the main is on the far side of the road and no company stop tap marks the boundary. If you're unsure where your pipe runs, ask your water company and check your property deeds.

Shared supply pipes

Older terraces and converted flats sometimes share one supply pipe. CCW explains that where a pipe serves more than one property, it becomes the joint responsibility of all the property owners connected to it. A leak on a shared section can mean coordinating with neighbours on repairs and costs, so it is worth knowing in advance if your home is on a shared supply.

Exceptions

Ofwat notes that the usual pattern has exceptions: there may be special cases in some areas, and you should contact your water company and check your deeds to confirm.

What being responsible means

Ofwat says property owners must maintain the supply pipes that are theirs, which includes leak detection, repairs and replacement. You are also responsible for the drains, water pipes and plumbing fixtures on your property, and for making sure the plumbing conforms to required standards. Our guide to plumbing rules in the UK covers those standards.

Water companies, for their part, are responsible for maintaining communication pipes and mains, again including leak detection, repairs and replacement.

If there's a leak on your supply pipe

Signs of a supply pipe leak include a meter that keeps moving with your inside stop tap closed, a persistently wet patch in the garden or drive, or low pressure. Our guide to using your water meter to find a hidden leak explains how to test for it.

Ofwat's guidance gives you several practical points:

• Ask about help with repairs. Contact your water company to find out if it offers subsidised or free repairs. Each company must publish a code of practice on how it handles leaks on household supply pipes.
• Ask about an allowance. If you have a meter and your bill was abnormally high because of a leak that's since been repaired, you may be able to claim an allowance for the water lost.
• When a meter is fitted, companies have specific responsibilities to check supply pipes for leaks and to carry out repairs where no further excavation is needed.

Legal notices about private leaks

If a water company detects leakage in your area but can't trace it to its own pipes, Ofwat explains that it may issue a legal notice under the Water Industry Act 1991 telling you about a potential private leak and your legal requirement to fix it. The notice gives a timescale. If the work isn't done in time, the company can carry it out and pass the costs on to you. Don't ignore such a letter: contact the company to discuss it.

What about waste pipes and sewers?

Responsibility for drains and sewers follows different rules from clean water pipes. Ofwat explains that in England and Wales, private sewers and lateral drains that were connected to the public sewer before 1 July 2011 were transferred to the sewerage companies on 1 October 2011, and private pumping stations by 1 October 2016. In broad terms, a drain that serves only your property and sits within your boundary is still yours, while shared sewers and the lateral drain beyond your boundary will usually now belong to the sewerage company. If a drain is blocked or damaged outside your home, contact your sewerage company first to check who is responsible before paying for a repair.

Buying or renovating a home

Pipe responsibilities are worth checking before problems arise:

• When buying, ask whether the property has its own supply pipe or shares one, and whether a stop tap is accessible inside. The seller's property information forms and your conveyancer's water and drainage search can help.
• Old lead or galvanised supply pipes are common in older homes. Because the supply pipe is yours, replacing it is normally your cost, though your water company may replace its own communication pipe at the same time. Ask your water company about its policy before you dig.
• Before landscaping or building an extension, find out where your supply pipe runs so you don't damage it or build over it.

Checking your insurance

Some home insurance policies cover underground supply pipe repairs; others exclude them or offer them as an add-on. CCW suggests checking whether your insurance covers the cost of lost metered water, and in a new home, whether a builder's warranty applies. Check before you need it.

Who to contact

• Leak in the street or footpath: report it to your water company.
• Leak inside your home: turn off the stop tap and call a plumber; CCW points to WaterSafe to find approved plumbers.
• Leak on the supply pipe: contact your water company about its repair policy, then a plumber.
• Dispute with your water company: CCW handles complaints about water companies that you can't resolve directly.

Sources and further reading

• Ofwat: Responsibility for pipes and pumping stations
• CCW: Who is responsible for my water pipes?
• CCW: What can I do if I suspect there is a leak on my private water supply?
• Ofwat: Transfer of private sewers
• WaterSafe: find an approved plumber

Facts and links checked on 21 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.