My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside, and running down the road, I went with him to investigate, expecting to
help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,. Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,.
Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several
thousand litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
This time of year we are still getting low temperatures so it is
possible that some ice may form on that road in the early hours .So
some poor sod slips if on foot and incurs all sorts of personal
issues and likely costs the NHS a few thousand or someone skids in a
vehicle causing damage and has to claim on their insurance . And so
the water company gets away with incurring the cost of keeping
adequate emergency cover available because others pay for the
consequential damage caused by their inaction. These companies need
to be sued more often,or preferably their senior management should be
held accountable and hit in their pockets.
GH
On 16 Mar 2025 09:45:27 GMT
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,.
Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several
thousand litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
This time of year we are still getting low temperatures so it is
possible that some ice may form on that road in the early hours .So
some poor sod slips if on foot and incurs all sorts of personal
issues and likely costs the NHS a few thousand or someone skids in a vehicle causing damage and has to claim on their insurance . And so
the water company gets away with incurring the cost of keeping
adequate emergency cover available because others pay for the
consequential damage caused by their inaction. These companies need
to be sued more often,or preferably their senior management should be
held accountable and hit in their pockets.
GH
I agree. I will bring that up with the householder when I next see him.
I will go and look at the situation this afternoon.
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside, and running down the road, I went with him to investigate, expecting to
help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve, and the whole
meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its socket. Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not secure. The good news is
that the water is not flowing though the meter, but past it, so he
won't be charged. Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
In article <vr6b1m$1f6pe$2@dont-email.me>,
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
On 16 Mar 2025 09:45:27 GMT
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was
a stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch
outside, and running down the road, I went with him to
investigate, expecting to help close the shut off valve, but
there is no valve,. Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk
Water, tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile,
several thousand litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
This time of year we are still getting low temperatures so it is possible that some ice may form on that road in the early hours
.So some poor sod slips if on foot and incurs all sorts of
personal issues and likely costs the NHS a few thousand or
someone skids in a vehicle causing damage and has to claim on
their insurance . And so the water company gets away with
incurring the cost of keeping adequate emergency cover available
because others pay for the consequential damage caused by their
inaction. These companies need to be sued more often,or
preferably their senior management should be held accountable and
hit in their pockets.
GH
I agree. I will bring that up with the householder when I next see
him. I will go and look at the situation this afternoon.
I certainly persuaded our local water company that freezing conditions
were likely to contribute to a road accident. They came out quickly
;-)
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,
and the whole meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its
socket. Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not
secure. The good news is that the water is not flowing though the
meter, but past it, so he won't be charged. Our local water
company, Essex and Suffolk Water, tell him that they cannot fix
until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been
wasted. And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside, and
running down the road, I went with him to investigate, expecting to
help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve, and the whole
meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its socket. Putting it back
slows the water flowing out, but it is not secure. The good news is
that the water is not flowing though the meter, but past it, so he
won't be charged. Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand
litres will have been wasted.
And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
What's a "toby"? Apart from being a decorative jug in the shape of a rotund man?
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,
and the whole meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its
socket. Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not
secure. The good news is that the water is not flowing though the
meter, but past it, so he won't be charged. Our local water
company, Essex and Suffolk Water, tell him that they cannot fix
until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been
wasted. And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
On 16 Mar 2025 11:51:31 GMT
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,
and the whole meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its
socket. Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not
secure. The good news is that the water is not flowing though the
meter, but past it, so he won't be charged. Our local water
company, Essex and Suffolk Water, tell him that they cannot fix
until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been
wasted. And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and
associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
None. There used to be a stopcock there, but the meter
replaced it.
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
On 16 Mar 2025 11:51:31 GMT Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate, expecting
to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve, and the
whole meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its socket.
Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not secure.
The good news is that the water is not flowing though the meter, but
past it, so he won't be charged. Our local water company, Essex and
Suffolk Water, tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile,
several thousand litres will have been wasted. And how can he shut
off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another ”upstream• toby and
associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
None. There used to be a stopcock there, but the meter replaced it.
Seems to me that there should still be a way to shut off water if the
meter replaced the old stopcock. Any chance of a photo?
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
On 16 Mar 2025 11:51:31 GMT
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch
outside, and running down the road, I went with him to
investigate, expecting to help close the shut off valve, but
there is no valve, and the whole meter assembly just lifts
straight up out of its socket. Putting it back slows the water
flowing out, but it is not secure. The good news is that the
water is not flowing though the meter, but past it, so he won't
be charged. Our local water company, Essex and Suffolk Water,
tell him that they cannot fix until Monday. Meanwhile, several
thousand litres will have been wasted. And how can he shut off
the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and
associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
None. There used to be a stopcock there, but the meter
replaced it.
Seems to me that there should still be a way to shut off water if the
meter replaced the old stopcock. Any chance of a photo?
Tim
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
On 16 Mar 2025 11:51:31 GMT
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:
My neighbour's water meter has come loose. The warning sign was a
stream of water bubbling up through the meter access hatch outside,
and running down the road, I went with him to investigate,
expecting to help close the shut off valve, but there is no valve,
and the whole meter assembly just lifts straight up out of its
socket. Putting it back slows the water flowing out, but it is not
secure. The good news is that the water is not flowing though the
meter, but past it, so he won't be charged. Our local water
company, Essex and Suffolk Water, tell him that they cannot fix
until Monday. Meanwhile, several thousand litres will have been
wasted. And how can he shut off the supply with no valve there?
But at least the road will be clean.
Seems odd not to have a stopcock of some sort (unless rotating the
meter normally does this?). No sign of another “upstream” toby and
associated stopcock out on the pavement or road?
Tim
None. There used to be a stopcock there, but the meter
replaced it.
Seems to me that there should still be a way to shut off water if the meter replaced the old stopcock. Any chance of a photo?
Maybe the meter was installed by a sub contractor who found that
eliminating the stop cock made for an easier, quicker, job?
i.e. "By the time anyone notices, I'll be long gone."
Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
Maybe the meter was installed by a sub contractor who found that
eliminating the stop cock made for an easier, quicker, job?
i.e. "By the time anyone notices, I'll be long gone."
LOL. Having said that, how do you fit a meter down a hole without turning the water off?
I’ve changed stopcocks on “live” water pipes before but only where access
has been good. Can’t imagine trying to do this with mains water fountaining up out of a hole in the pavement.
I have a vague recollection of reading about a water meter that kinda
doubles up as a stopcock. You rotate the meter body to shut off the water. Can’t find any links though so maybe I imagined it…
Tim
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
Maybe the meter was installed by a sub contractor who found that
eliminating the stop cock made for an easier, quicker, job?
i.e. "By the time anyone notices, I'll be long gone."
LOL. Having said that, how do you fit a meter down a hole without
turning the water off?
I’ve changed stopcocks on “live” water pipes before but only where access has been good. Can’t imagine trying to do this with mains
water fountaining up out of a hole in the pavement.
I have a vague recollection of reading about a water meter that
kinda doubles up as a stopcock. You rotate the meter body to shut
off the water. Can’t find any links though so maybe I imagined it…
Tim
When we had our water meter moved from the kitchen to the street
Yorkshire water opened out the existing street stopcock. They cut the existing copper supply pipe removing the stopcock and simply slid the
meter over the cut pipe using a push fit fitting, no fountain of
water despite the high pressure we enjoy around here. Incidentally,
the meter has an attached valve to turn off the water which takes a
standard stopcock key to manipulate it.
NY <me@privacy.net> Wrote in message:r
What's a "toby"? Apart from being a decorative jug in the shape of a rotund man?
toby /t?'bi/
noun
The road (criminal sl)
Robbery on the road
A stop-cock in a gas or water main under the road (Scot)
The cover protecting it (Scot)
ORIGIN: Shelta t?bar
This one had no place for a key to attach to. But it might be one that rotates to shut off the water, but it doesn't work if the whole thing
has fallen out of its socket.
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