Grange PlumbingLocation
Hassocks, West Sussex
Service
Water supply pipe repair
Property Type
Residential — block paved area
Problem
Signs of an underground water supply pipe issue
Work
Investigation, excavation, pipe repair and reinstatement
Water Supply
Mains water — private supply pipe
Time on Site
1 working day
Images Included
3 original site photos
The problem
Short answer
The customer had signs of an underground water supply pipe issue. The affected section needed to be located and exposed so the source of the problem could be confirmed.
The visible clue was an area of block paving that stayed wet and mossy long after the rest of the drive had dried out — one of the most common early signs of a leaking water supply pipe. Before lifting a single block we checked the meter and listened along the pipe run, so the excavation could be kept small and put in exactly the right place. If you're seeing the same thing at home, our underground leak detection service is the sensible first step.
The repair
Short answer
Once the relevant section of pipework was exposed, the repair was completed and tested. The excavated area was then prepared for reinstatement.
A small area of block paving was lifted by hand and set aside for re-use, and the pit was dug down to pipe level. With the supply pipe exposed we could confirm the source of the water, cut out the affected section and make the repair with new pipe and WRAS-approved mechanical fittings. The supply was then turned back on and the joint checked under pressure before any backfilling. Where a pipe is old lead or corroded steel we'd normally recommend a full water main replacement instead, often pulled through underground using trenchless moling.
The result
Short answer
The repair was completed and the disturbed block paving was carefully reinstated, leaving the area neat and usable again.
With the leak stopped, the pit was backfilled and compacted in layers and the original blocks were relaid and re-sanded, so the paving matches the surrounding area rather than being patched with new material. The customer was left with a sound water supply, no more damp patch, and a driveway they could use straight away.
Project gallery
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my water supply pipe is leaking in Hassocks?
The usual signs are a water meter that keeps ticking with every tap turned off, a permanently damp, mossy or green patch on a driveway or lawn, a drop in water pressure, or a water bill that has jumped without explanation. On this Hassocks job the give-away was a wet, mossy area of block paving that never dried out.
Who is responsible for a leaking water supply pipe?
From the boundary of the property up to the house, the private supply pipe belongs to the homeowner. South East Water is responsible for the communication pipe from the main in the road to the boundary. That means most driveway and garden leaks in Hassocks are the homeowner's to repair.
Can an underground water supply pipe be repaired rather than replaced?
Yes. Where the pipe itself is sound and the failure is at a joint or a single damaged section — as it was here — a targeted repair is quicker, cheaper and far less disruptive than a full replacement. If the pipe is old lead or corroded steel, replacement is usually the better long-term call.
How do you find an underground water leak without digging up the garden?
We start with meter checks and acoustic listening along the pipe run, backed up by a cable avoidance scan before any digging. That narrows the leak down to a small area, so we only open a single, small excavation instead of trenching the whole driveway.
Will the block paving be put back after the repair?
Yes. Paving is lifted carefully and stacked to one side so the same blocks go back down. The sub-base is compacted, the blocks are relaid and the joints re-sanded, so the area is neat and usable again the same day.
How long does a water supply pipe repair take?
Most domestic supply pipe repairs, including this one in Hassocks, are completed within a single working day — investigation, excavation, repair, testing and reinstatement.