Water main upgrades
Upgrade lead and
undersized mains — proper
flow, pressure and safety
Lead replacement and water main upgrades across Kent. We replace tired Victorian and post-war supplies with modern 25mm or 32mm MDPE, restore proper pressure, and handle the water board notifications for you.
What it covers
Lead replacement and main upgrades — restored flow, modern pipe, safe water
Lead water mains and undersized 15mm supplies still feed thousands of Kent homes. The problems show up as poor pressure, slow-filling baths, modern appliances that can't keep up with showers, and a lingering question about lead in the drinking water. The fix is a proper upgrade to modern MDPE — done correctly and notified to the water board.
Our water main upgrades cover the full external run from the boundary stop tap to your internal stop tap, plus the internal first metre. We work in 25mm and 32mm blue MDPE as standard, mole-plough or open-cut as appropriate, and reinstate driveways, lawns and patios to a proper finish.
Every job is notified to Southern Water, South East Water or Thames Water as appropriate, with the meter relocated or replaced as part of the work where required. You get the certification needed for sale, insurance and for the lead supply to come off your property records permanently.
What happens if you wait
Lead pipework is a known health risk — and undersized mains kill resale value
The UK has been actively removing lead from water supplies since the 1970s, but plenty of Kent properties still have lead from the boundary to the kitchen. The health concerns are real, the resale impact is real, and the cost of replacement is far smaller than most homeowners assume.
Lead leaches into drinking water particularly in soft-water areas. There is no safe level for children.
Buyers' surveys increasingly flag lead pipework. Sales fall through or prices drop by thousands at the negotiation stage.
Modern showers, washing machines and hot-water appliances need flow that 15mm lead simply can't deliver — leading to weak performance and constant frustration.
Common mistakes we fix every week
- Replacing only the internal lead and leaving the external run untouched.
- Connecting new MDPE to old lead with a brass coupler rather than a proper transition fitting.
- Mole-ploughing a new main without checking for existing services on the line.
- Failing to notify the water authority — the upgrade is non-compliant without it.
- Choosing 20mm MDPE for a four-bed family home that should be on 25mm or 32mm.
- Leaving the old lead in the ground rather than removing or properly capping it.
Our process
A predictable, step-by-step system — no surprises, no upsells
-
STEP 01Site survey
Trace the existing run, check pressure and flow, confirm the meter position and access for the new main.
-
STEP 02Quote & notify
Fixed-price quote in writing, and water authority notification submitted on your behalf.
-
STEP 03Excavate or mole-plough
Mole-ploughing where ground conditions allow — minimal disruption. Open-cut where access requires.
-
STEP 04Install new MDPE
25mm or 32mm blue MDPE bedded in sand, with proper warning tape and warning marker installed.
-
STEP 05Test, reinstate & sign off
Pressure test, flushed and chlorinated, reinstatement to original finish, certification issued.
What you get
Concrete outcomes — not vague promises
New 25mm or 32mm main restores shower performance and bath-fill times.
The lead supply is taken out and disposed of correctly — not coupled to and left underground.
Notifications, meter moves and supply isolation arranged on your behalf.
Driveways, lawns and patios put back to original finish — not 'we'll send someone next month'.
Documentation issued to remove lead from property records and satisfy buyer surveys.
Workmanship guarantee of up to 5 years from the date of installation on the entire upgrade.
Technical detail
How a modern water main upgrade actually goes in
From the outside, a water main upgrade looks like a slit trench across a lawn. From the inside, it's a permitted job with a specific sequence — survey, notification, excavation method, pipe specification, pressure testing and certification — and every step matters.
Choosing pipe size correctly
25mm MDPE is the modern domestic standard and serves the majority of three- and four-bed homes well. 32mm is standard for larger properties, second bathrooms or where high-flow appliances (showers, hot tubs, garden taps) are present. Anything smaller than 25mm is a false economy on a new install.
Mole-ploughing vs open-cut
Where soft-ground access from the boundary to the property is clear, a mole plough pulls the new MDPE through with minimal disruption — a small entry pit and exit pit. Where existing services, hard standing or trees are on the route, open-cut excavation is the correct (and ultimately cheaper) choice.
- Mole plough — fastest, least disruption, suitable for clear soft ground
- Open-cut — needed for hard standing, existing services or root zones
- Directional drilling — under driveways and hard landscaping where mole plough isn't possible
Lead removal and disposal
Old lead pipework is removed from the ground where possible and disposed of via a licensed scrap-metal route. Where removal would damage hard standing, lead is properly capped and abandoned in place with notification to the water authority. Internal lead is fully removed.
Notification, testing and certification
Water authority notifications are submitted in advance. On completion the new main is pressure-tested to 15 bar, flushed and chlorinated where required, and certification is issued — you keep the paperwork for your title deeds, mortgage records and any future sale.
Frequently asked
Straight answers to the questions Kent homeowners ask us most
How much does a water main upgrade cost?+
Most domestic upgrades run between £1,400 and £3,500 depending on length, access and reinstatement. We give a fixed price after a free site survey — no per-metre creep.
How long does the work take?+
Most domestic upgrades are completed in one day, including excavation, install, test, water-on and a tidy reinstatement. Larger or longer runs may extend to two days.
Do I lose water during the work?+
Briefly, yes — typically two to four hours while we switch the supply over. We'll agree the time in advance and leave a temporary supply where needed.
Do you handle the water board notification?+
Yes. We submit all required notifications, arrange meter relocation if needed and liaise with Southern, South East or Thames Water on your behalf.
Can you upgrade just the internal lead?+
We can — but we'll always recommend doing the full external run at the same time. A lead boundary supply with a copper internal isn't a 'lead-free' property.
Will my pressure improve immediately?+
Yes — usually dramatically. Most owners are surprised by the difference between a 15mm lead supply and a new 25mm MDPE.
Do you reinstate the driveway or lawn?+
Yes. Reinstatement to original finish is included in the quoted price — block paving, tarmac, slabs or turf.
Does this affect my home insurance or mortgage?+
Generally positively. Lead removal is a recognised improvement that helps sale, insurance and mortgage applications.
Related services
Areas we cover
Upgrade your main — proper pressure, lead-free, in a day.
Free site survey across Kent. Fixed price in writing. Water board liaison handled.
Fully insured · Workmanship guarantee · 7 days a week