We're responsible for

• The outside stop tap usually found in the road or footpath
• Any pipes up to the boundary of the property - normally where it meets the footpath
• The water meter, where fitted

You, or the property owner, are responsible for

• All stop taps located either in your garden or inside your house
• The supply pipe from the boundary to your property
• All of the plumbing inside the house

• Any pipes up to the boundary of your property, normally where it meets the footpath

*Depending on the location, you may be responsible for a leak outside of your own boundary

Severn Trent Water takes care of sewerage and drainage pipes, while South Staffs Water looks after the pipes that supply clean water.

Click here to visit Severn Trent Water's website

The water pipes in some older houses (particularly those built before 1963) may be used as an earth for household electrical appliances.

The increasing use of plastic water pipes reduces the effectiveness of your water pipe as an earth.

The use of water pipes as an earth is illegal and highly dangerous. Providing electrical earthing is not one of our services. If you'd like more information and advice, we recommend that you contact a qualified electrician.

We can assist you in finding the right solution.

For example, we may be able to help with:

• Finding leaks on your property
• Putting you in touch with approved plumbers or contractors, who’ll be able to provide a quote and do the repair work for you

You may choose to fix the leak yourself. If you do, it’s important to make sure that all work undertaken complies with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations.

If you do decide to fix it yourself, please contact us with the details of the contractor you’re using and the repair date.

Metered customers

If your meter reading or bill is unusually high it may indicate that you have a leak. You can use your meter to check if you have a leak:

• Turn off all taps
• Find your water meter and take a reading (including the red digits)
• Do not use any water for a length of time (eg overnight or while you are out for the day)
• Read the meter again

If the second reading is higher than the first, there may be a leak.

If you have a leak on your property you may wish to contact an approved plumber.

Metered properties

If water leaking from your supply pipe is recorded through your meter you will be billed for it.

If you are a household customer we may consider granting you an allowance to cover the cost of the extra water providing that work to repair the leak is undertaken within 30 days.
The adjustment will be based on refunding the cost of the additional water that has passed through the meter as a result of your leak, compared to past consumption.

Where there is no record of past consumption, the adjustment will be based upon typical usage for a property of a similar type. This charge may be further adjusted if your subsequent actual usage is significantly different.

The leakage allowance is usually applied to one billing period only. If the excess water did not drain into a public sewer, we will grant a 100% allowance on excess sewerage charges for the same period.

You must submit your claim within 12 months of any works being undertaken.

You will be advised of any adjustment within 10 working days of a claim being received by us.
If work to repair the leak is delayed we will reduce the allowance to a maximum of 50%. We will not make any adjustment where the leak has been caused through negligence of the customer/property owner.

We will not be responsible for any loss, damage or any associated costs/expenses resulting from any escaped water from the supply pipe or fittings at the property.

Please contact us for a claim form.

Unmetered properties

If your property is unmetered a leak from your supply pipe will have had no impact on your bill, so no leak allowance will be granted.

Supply pipes older than 30 years can be prone to developing further leaks. If this is the case it may be cheaper and easier to replace the whole pipe, rather than fix the leak.