Water Leak, Possibly from Small Tree Root, Advice Please

[REP22]

Hello. I am hopeless in this sort of issue and am hoping that you may be able to offer some advice or guidance.

I live in a rented housing association property with a small garden, I've been here for over 15 years. A few months ago (around August), Southern Water contacted me to say that my water usage was significantly higher than normal and they wanted to investigate. The water man came yesterday and confirmed that there is a leak, about 240ltrs per hour. There are no pools of water anywhere, no damp patches or indication of leakage inside the house. There is no issue with the toilet flushing or the draining of sinks or bath, just the high usage on the water meter.

They are going to send out people to dig to see where the water leak might be and should return within the next two weeks.

This morning it has occurred to me that a small pot-grown acer tree I was given some years ago might be to blame. I was given it more than ten years ago and has sat in its pot outside my kitchen window all the time. It's too heavy to move, but I am worried that one of the roots might have broken through the bottom of the pot, penetrated the ground and damaged the pipe?

Please can anyone knowledgeable in these things offer some advice as to what might happen if this is the case and how expensive it might be to put right? I am panicking a bit in case it's going to be a vastly expensive repair bill. Because it's a HA-owned property I only have contents insurance.

Thank you very much for your help.

Your landlord should pay. You should then be able to apply to the water company for a leakage allowance against your bill.

Thank you ever so much for replying, that's really helpful. I wonder if they will view it as my fault for allowing the tree to expand, if that's what has happened? Thank you again. x

Tree roots don't cause burst water mains pipes. They can cause an issue with waste pipes but not water supply pipes.

The roots of a plant in a pot couldn't break concrete and damage pipes. It's an issue for the water board to fix, it's their pipes. I'd be surprised if there was any cost to your landlord.

Thank you so much @Geneticsbunny and @snotathing - I did think that might be the case but I have no clue really and was beginning to tie myself up in knots a bit. I really do appreciate you taking the time and trouble to reply and reassure me. Thank you again, and to @MrsMoastyToasty . x

It definitely won't be the tree in a pot.

If it is tour side of the meter its your LL responsibility, if the other it is the water board.

Thanks ever so much @Ilovemyshed, I really appreciate your helpful words. 🙂

Are they saying the extra water usage shown is from your internal water meter and charging you for it. If so, it's water coming into your property after that point. One thing that's worth doing is turning your stop tap off overnight - it should move with no water usage - if it does, it could be a faulty meter.

If it's an external issue, look at whats over the line of pipework on the approach to your property - landlord should know from the deeds paperwork if you don't. If it isn't caused by yourself, could well be damaged pipework.

Really unlikely to be the tree as others have said. Generally anything inside your property boundary (including grounds) is your responsibility and anything in a public space is the water companies. If they are sending a crew out to dig are they digging inside your property boundary? That would be quite unusual but perhaps they are. If you have a smart meter in the street (assuming so as they’ve contacted you) then you can switch that off (may need to buy the tool depending on how deep it is) and see if that stops it. You’ll have a plus sign flashing on the led display if water running so if that stops then no water running. Next open again and then turn off internal stop cock if you can. If the flashing plus sign stops then the leak not outside your home between street and stop cock so must be inside. Lastly open all and shut off all taps and if plus flashing to show use then must be inside.

How old is the house do you know? My bet would be if older then a broken lead pipe at the interface between the street supply and your house line. Water company will repair for free and you’ll get a refund for extra use. If inside then your housing association will presumably be liable for the repair? Either way it shouldn’t come back to you.

@Iliketulips and @NonmagicMike - thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to reply; I am most grateful.

At the moment, Southern Water are charging me for the increased usage, with is roughly 4x what my normal usage would be. I asked the water engineer if he wanted me to turn off the stopcock inside the house to do the checks you mention (Southern Water said that I needed to be home in order to do this when the engineer visited) but he said that wasn't necessary. The meter is under a flap on the pavement just outside my fence, in the street. I don't think it's an LED one, it's got a dial - the one in the picture. The man said it was going around at the rate of a leak of 240ltrs per hour.

They are definitely going to be digging in the street outside, the man has sprayed the payment to indicate where they are to dig with blue paint. He didn't say that they would be digging within the fence line of my garden at this stage.

I think the house was built about 40 years ago. Possibly a little less, but certainly not more than that.

I will have a go at following the steps you've mentioned in your posts, to see if that sheds any more light. Thank you very, very much for your time and advice. x