But I can't brush my Teeth !!!!

[awemawson]

Sunday - a day of rest - but SOMETHING woke me up - ok no point in lying in bed, get up and do things! First action, brush my teeth. Oi who stole the water 

OK there was water but at a very low pressure. I glanced out of the bedroom window to see a 'gusher' in the front garden - probably about 6" out of the ground and LOTS of flow 

Quick Google got me Southern Water's emergency number, and when I called them they said they'd had several low pressure reports and were searching for the leak - 'I think I know were it is' I said !

This was just after 7 am - team turned up about 9 am but before arrival they'd shut valves to stem the flow - in the mean time I took a little video and a few pictures:

[awemawson]

They brought a 1 ton digger with them and started digging up my front lawn - very soggy - lots of mess 

Eventually they got down to what was shown on the plans as a 150 mm ductile iron water main, but in practice turned out to be a 150 mm asbestos water main 

Oops - need another team - not allowed to cut asbestos pipes. OK another couple of fellows suitably trained turn up, and they decide to cut a 4 metre section out and replace flange to flange. More digging, big lorry arrives with 6 metre length of (this time actually ductile cast iron) pipe flanges etc

Careful measure up and out with the petrol cutter to slice off the extra

[awemawson]

Now while this is happening we have no water for the livestock so I pressed them for a bowser to be delivered, which eventually turns up

[awemawson]

Cut length of bally heavy pipe now man ported across the soggy lawn and put in place.

The crack in the original pipe is substantial as you can see in one of the pictures

[awemawson]

So, leak fixed time to turn on the water 

Ah - ever heard of water hammer 

Big hammer effect as large volume of water flows into big pipe - BURSTING THE PIPE about 30 foot further along our hedge.

As I type, there is another even bigger hole being dug and about 10 metres of my front laurel hedge have been felled to insert yet anther new bit. They had to borrow my JCB 803 for this hole as theirs wasn't big enough !

They intend to fit a fire hydrant in our front garden on this section, and have it open when the pipe is re-filled to stop the water hammer, but it's now 18:40 - still no water, and I'm having supper - more pictures later !

[PekkaNF]

Now - that calls for something that rhymes with clacking bell!

Pekka

[awemawson]

So supper finished but they're still at it - gave them a can of beer each as a consolation prize -  here's a few more pictures:

I'm glad that I installed good lights on the JCB803


In the last picture the hydrant is just visible in the bottom left corner

[John Swift]

they have only done half the job

for what they charge for the water they should of replaced all of the old 6" asbestos pipe
(unless they plan to come back several times over the next few years )

          John

 

[awemawson]

I agree John, it's daft - but this is a 'repair' by the emergency team and not a 're-lay' by the project team. I'll certainly tread carefully on that bit of lawn in the future 

[Spurry]

Is that the village supply pipe? We have to make do with a puny 1" plastic supply pipe.
Pete

[mattinker]

Hi Andrew!

Chris tells me that there hasn't heard about your leak yet! Are you South East or Southern?

All the best! Matthew

[awemawson]

That 150 mm does us, two house further up the road (A21), then a small industrial estate and about 50 houses on the way into Battle down Marley Lane.

The Water Board have put up a public Bowser in the Lay-Bay across the road but we have our own 

[awemawson]

Hi Andrew!

Chris tells me that there hasn't heard about your leak yet! Are you South East or Southern?

All the best! Matthew

South East Matthew

[sparky961]

Always an adventure at your place!

Seems you take it all in stride and with a good sense of humour (at least that's how you tell the story later anyway).

[awemawson]

Well Sparky there's no point in ranting and raving and getting under the skin of the poor chaps fixing the problem, they're doing their best.

Anyway - 20:30 Sunday Evening, and I've been able to wash my Wellies off under the outside tap - yes WE HAVE WATER 

The front garden now looks like The Somme with slit trenches, piles of earth, cut down hedging, but at least given time it's all repairable. The restitution team are apparently going to turn up on Monday or Tuesday, fill in the trenches, level the piles of earth, and re-turf the lawn.

I'll take some pictures when the sun returns

[howsitwork?]

Andrew

surely there's a re-enactment team somewhere down your way??? 

Sealed Knot specialize in civil war , not sure who covers 1914- 18 period but at least give 'em a chance!!

Glad to hear you're flush again, I assume your charging piece rates for the use of the JCB? 

Hope the re turning etc goes well.

Ian

[Pete.]

Blimey I was going to come and visit you today. Sounds like you had enough on your plate without me making a nuisance too

[awemawson]

Be glad to see you Pete, no issue with plate overload 

[awemawson]

 

So this morning I woke up to quite a different view from the bedroom windows :

[awemawson]

And it didn't get a lot better from ground level 

[awemawson]

Still, look on the bright side - we now have our own private fire hydrant 

[Spurry]

Corr, that's a bonus Andrew. A water supply with no meter. 
Pete

[awemawson]

..... that DID briefly cross my mind Pete ....... 

[DaveS]

Andrew,

Sorry to hear of your  major inconvinience (bit of an understatement) hopefully they don't cause too much agro over the landscapeing. I assume the water didn't flow west as there have been reports of an approaching Tsunami in my area.
That was some gusher and at least their response was quick and the new pipework is a very good match to your Plasma machine.

[awemawson]

" and the new pipework is a very good match to your Plasma machine"