Private pipe alterations

Overview

Clear policies outlining when and why the provider will fund or contribute to private pipework alterations are essential for setting expectations and maintaining trust. These policies should explain the rationale for any support, primarily fairness, feasibility, and safety.

Private pipe alterations typically arise when installing check meters to allocate water use between individual customers behind a shared primary meter. Because check meters sit entirely on private pipework, the provider’s role is limited to enabling a safe installation, while customers are responsible for addressing any private-side constraints that prevent individual metering.

Some customers may feel that because metering is being introduced by the provider, the provider should fund all alterations required to achieve individual metering on their property. That perspective is understandable. But if the provider pays for significant private-side upgrades at one property, every other customer effectively subsidises bespoke improvements for that household. That is neither equitable nor sustainable.[JF1] 

A clear, consistent hierarchy of options is therefore needed — one that protects fairness across the customer base while still giving individual households workable pathways when their private plumbing layout prevents check-meter installation.

So what are the options:

Baseline position – provider funds minor, safety-related adjustments

The provider may fund minor work immediately around the check-meter location where required for a safe, compliant installation. This typically includes:

• • installing or upgrading an isolation valve

  • replacing a short section of degraded pipe

  • small reconfiguration within the meter footprint

These interventions address issues created or discovered during installation, without crossing into broader private-network upgrades.

Beyond that point, constraints sit with the customer. Where the private layout makes individual metering difficult or impossible, responsibility shifts to the customer. This is particularly relevant where:

• private piping is encased in concrete slabs[JF2]  or under concrete or asphalt driveways

• dwellings share interconnected private services

• the existing stop tap is inaccessible or located where[JF3]  meters are within private property, or cannot be safely read, installed, or maintained

In these cases, individual check-meter installation is not achievable without the customer modifying their private network.

Example: Hierarchy of Options When Check Meters Cannot Be Installed:

Option 1: Customer modifies private pipework to enable individual metering

• Customers can choose to alter their private pipework to restore isolation points and create a suitable location for a check meter. This remains the simplest and most accurate outcome.

Option 2: Alternative billing models

• If modification is not feasible, alternative billing arrangements may be offered, such as:

  • • a single primary meter with shared billing, allocated by agreement or occupancy[JF5] [MC6]  or dwelling size, or

    • a deduction-account model, where the primary meter is installed now and individual check meters are added later once private works are completed.

This approach maintains fair billing while preserving flexibility for future upgrades.

Option 3: Dedicated lateral and boundary meter (for shared supplies)

• • Where both primary and check-meter options are impractical due to complex shared private networks, the provider may offer installation of a new dedicated service lateral and dedicated boundary meter.

  • The avoided cost of installing additional primary meters on a shared supply can be credited against the customer’s contribution to the new private connection.