Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 21, 2011 6:17 pm Messy intro, but just bear with me Part 1 We have water meter near the front boundary and also private power pole immediately against the meter/pipes ( yes, I know). Almost right against the bottom of the pole, water pipes (metal/copper??) go into the ground under 90 degrees and then, I assume, they change into a horizontal direction and travel underground to the house to get us fresh town water. Where the pipes enter the ground under 90 degrees, there is a small hole dug out by one of our tradies and just left like that (yep, ). Part 2 We had some rain on Friday (2 days ago). Almost nothing after that. It is fair to assume that this rain filled the small hole with water. It was full about 3/4. Part 3 Yesterday I went to clean out the hole (of water) and fill it with dirt (while it's still soft). I took all the water out and was going to start filling, when I noticed that the hole is re-filling with fresh clean water (like from an underground well), and seemingly from 2 sides (where the pipe enters the ground under 90 degrees and opposite to that, on the other end of the hole). So, fresh clean water filled up quite quickly, but only up to a certain level and then it stays at that level "forever". This level is only about 1/3 of the height of the hole. Does this mean that our mains water pipes are leaking? If yes, how come water only goes for a short time and then stops?? Oh, I cleaned out the hole a few more times today, hoping that the hole won't be re-filling, but this is now consistent behaviour. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 2Aug 21, 2011 7:22 pm 1st question.... is the leak pre or post water meter? Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 3Aug 21, 2011 7:51 pm Are you asking if the hole / leak is in between the meter and the house? If yes, the answer is yes (so it's not SW's responsibility, if that's what you were implying??). I am not sure that this is actually a leak (but only because "someone" here is telling me that it's not ) - even though it reads like that, doesn't it My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 4Aug 21, 2011 9:59 pm If it has been raining it may simply be ground water tracking back into the hole. To test if it is groud water or a busted water pipe check if your meter changes over a number of hours or simply take a sample to your local pool shop to test for "city water" chemicals. But as you say the water level stops and doesnt over flow the hole i would think it ground water. Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 5Aug 22, 2011 7:39 am Thanks, David. It's weird because this water is completely clean, whereas ground water should be "coloured" at least a little bit. This is very easy to see while this fresh water rushes into the hole (which has some "coloured" water already in it). You can clearly see the "newcomer" completely clean, rushing in from 2 sides into the dirty water and "swirling into it". We'll try to dig around it today to see if there is some obvious source. Also check what the meter is doing while this new water starts filling the hole - but this may be hard since it only takes a short time to re-fill the hole My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 6Aug 24, 2011 5:21 pm Try turning off the water meter tap, then running your taps inside the house till they stop (to empty the pipes). Then try and empty the hole of water, if it refills, then there is no leak between the water meter and your house - simple. Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 7Aug 24, 2011 6:04 pm joannapaulp ... if it refills, then there is no leak between the water meter and your house - simple. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Weird, weird behaviour of water pipes ! 8Aug 24, 2011 9:11 pm Lex joannapaulp ... if it refills, then there is no leak between the water meter and your house - simple. You would have drained out all the water from the meter to your house, so if it refills than the water would be coming from somewhere else Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Building Standards; Getting It Right! Thank you for the generous offer. I need to get the plumber out to give me an explanation. As mentioned I haven't seen any rain water discharge from pipes 1& 3. It… 7 10806 I had an old shower unit that broke on me and when I took it off, there were only 2 water pipes, instead of the normal 2 water pipes and a shower head pipe. S o I… 0 36935 4 5102 |