Your Responsibility
Who's responsible for what?
At Scottish Water we provide water and waste water services to over 2.4 million households across Scotland. Our large network of pipes and sewers is enough to run twice around the globe.
Do you know who owns and is responsible for the water and waste water pipes in and around your property? This is useful to understand if a pipe bursts in and around your home, and could save you time in an emergency. The diagram and table below shows a typical example of the pipework found in an average street that will apply to most of our customers.
You can find out more about your responsibilities by viewing or downloading the your pipework responsibilities leaflet and your guide to drains and sewers leaflet in the useful links section on the right hand side of this page.
We have also included answers to some frequently asked questions below that will help you understand who is responsible for what, in relation to your property.
A typical example
Your questions answered
1. What is a water supply pipes and who owns it?
For most of our customers the water supply pipe is the pipe that runs from the edge of your property boundary and ends at your stop valve inside your home. A property can have an individual supply pipe or a common supply pipe (one pipe feeding more than one property). You will often find that flats and older or terraced houses are more than likely to have their water supplied by a common supply pipe.
The owner or occupier of the property is responsible for the maintenance of the water supply pipe. If you are on a common supply pipe you are jointly responsible, along with your neighbours. You are also responsible for the installation and maintenance of all plumbing inside your home.
2. What is a water communication pipe and who owns it?
The water communication pipe starts at its connection with our water main and usually ends at the property boundary between your premises and the pavement. This is where you will normally find Scottish Water's stopcock.
If you have a water meter, this will usually be at the same location. In some cases, this stopcock may be found within, but close to, the boundary or your property. In any event, we own the water communication pipe and it is our responsibility to maintain it.
3. What is a stopcock and a water meter and who owns them?
A stopcock is usually found at the end of the communication pipe. The stopcock is where we would access your water supply to carry out any necessary work or checks. If you have a water meter, it is usually located at this point and the meter is used to measure the amount of water entering your property. We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of both the stopcock and the water meter.
4. What is a water main and who owns it?
The water main is the main public water supply pipe into the local area. We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the public water main.
5. What is the stop valve and who owns it?
The stop valve controls your water supply into your property. It is located within the boundary of your property and normally inside the building. The stop valve allows you to switch off your water supply within your property if you are doing plumbing work or if your pipe bursts. The location of the stop valve will vary but the most common locations are under a sink (kitchen or utility room), in a garage or close to the hot water system (wherever the mains supply enters your house). In some older properties, the stop valve may be outside the building. The stop valve is your responsibility.
6. What is the private drain and who owns it?
The private drain is the pipe that removes the waste water from your property (for example, from your toilet and sinks). It runs from your property up to your property boundary where it meets and connects to the main public sewer. The private drain is the responsibility of the homeowner.
7. What is a sewer and who owns it?
The waste water from your property passes down your private drain and into the main public sewer. From there, our vast network of sewers transports the waste water to our waste water treatment works. We are responsible for the provision, operation and maintenance of the public sewer network.
free stop valve sticker
Think ahead: Why not contact us to get a
quick reminder sticker which you can write
the name and number of your licensed plumber on, so you've got it handy for and emergency?
fill in the form or write to Customer Marketing, Free Stop Valve Promotion, PO Box 8855, Edinburgh, EH10 6YQ; or email customermarketing@scottishwater.co.uk quoting Free Stop Valve Promotion, giving us your name and full address (we can only send one sticker per household. This is only available in Scotland).
licensed plumbers
We would always recommend the use of licensed plumbers. Scottish Water supports and promotes the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbers Employers Federation (SNIPEF).
To find a licensed plumber in your area visit www.needaplumber.org or call SNIPEF on 0845 224 0391 who will be able to recommend a plumber. Office opening hours are Monday - Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. For out of office hours, please visit the website or refer to your telephone directory.
