Company water stopcock

[Alec]

I need to turn off the main water supply to do repairs on leaky pipe in the back yard. Water company has put a new plastic stopcock in the back alley. On opening the flap I can see a white plastic hexagonal nut around 25 mm in diameter about 50 cm down. My questions are:

1) Am I allowed to touch it to turn off the supply, or do I need permission or only company staff can touch it? 2) If I am allowed, what kind of key to I need? The one I've seen at B&Q is a long steel rod with a U-shaped end, but at £13 or so. I've seen much cheaper ones, again all metal, in plumbing websites from around £3. Are they suitable for my purpose? Or do I have to get a special plastic one? If so, from where? Can I hire one? Grateful for any help.

Alec

[John Stumbles]

There should have been a loose black (or blue?) plastic key to turn it with, but I've got away with an adjustable spanner. If you've got a motorists' socket set you may find you have a socket that fits.

Watch out for the Water Company's Enforcement helicopter appearing overhead when you touch it ;-)

[troubleinstore]

I am in the process of selling my late Mothers bungalow. The chap at the insurance company insisted that because the property was empty, then all services, gas, electricity and water were disconnected. After sometime I contacted the insurance company again and advised that we needed the services back on because the place needed aa good clean. They asked me why we had had them all disconnected disconnected in the first place. Informing them of the above, they said we only insist that they are turned off at the meters and stopcock when no one is in the property but you can turn them for cleaning and heating purposes when you are in the premises. The chap from the water company came out and said we could have turned it on ourselves. Informing him that the lady at the water company said that it had to be turned back on by their inspector because it was on a water meter, the chap replied 'what a load ofb*****ks'. So who do you believe.....?

-- troubleinstore

[me]

In message , troubleinstore writes

The man with dirty hands.

[Broadback]

I am working on a house in the Manchester area. It is 1930s and the internal stopcock has, it appears, been painted over every year since day one.

So in order to turn off the water I looked in the water board's hole in the pavement, where the meter is located. They had installed a handle to turn the water on/off just below pavement level, very convenient.

Incidentally if your water board will not allow you to use their stopcock how do you cope if you have your meter in the pavement and get a leek between there and your house? If you are lucky your insurance company will cover the water bill!

[Rick Dipper]

My first stop tap (I have 4, one every 50m) is about 10cm after the meter. All the pipe after the meter is my responsability.

Rick

[richard]

questions snipped

I thought that was a removeable plug, where they could fit a water meter? be careful what you're turning. The stop tap bit is usually a flat piece that turns 90 degrees.