Help & Advice

These guides answer the questions people ask when something goes wrong with their water. Who is responsible for which pipe. What the warning signs mean. What the work costs. What you can do yourself before you call anyone.

Start with the problem you have. If you think you have a leak, the water leaks guide shows you how to spot one, what to do first, and how to claim money off your bill after a repair. If your water pressure is low, that guide takes you through the checks to do before you pay anyone. Most cases turn out to be a half-closed valve or a blocked tap aerator. If you want to know what the work costs, the impact moling prices guide gives real numbers: usually £1,500 to £12,000 to replace a supply pipe, and what makes the price higher or lower.

The lead guides belong together. Lead pipe explains the health risk and how to tell if your home has lead, which is most likely if it was built before 1970. Replacing lead pipes explains the work, who owns which section, and the part your water company replaces free. The scheme guide explains the support available. The water filter guide is honest about what filters can and cannot do while you wait.

Every guide also has a local version for each of the 583 towns we cover, with that town's water supplier, emergency number and water hardness. Find yours on the locations page.