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G/2008/7116
Mr P has a fire service water supply pipe to his property. It burst
after the gas distributor undertook works close by in the street. When the water company told him
it was his responsibility to repair the pipe, Mr P called a plumber who excavated the area.
The plumber found the PVC gas pipe was almost touching the cast iron water pipe at a 90 degree
angle and the water pipe had a hole with no rust - as a result there wasn't the required 150mm
clearance between the two pipes.
The plumber repaired the water pipe by putting a sleeve on it, but advised Mr P that it wasn't
the best possible repair - he couldn't put the sleeve in the best position because of the gas
pipe. He charged Mr P $1,650 for the work.
Mr P said that, initially, the gas company told him a PVC pipe couldn't damage a cast iron
water pipe and that ground movement and water flow were responsible for the pipes being so close
together - although it did concede that the gas work in the area could have contributed to the
damage. It advised him it would pay for the temporary repair, but not undertake more permanent
repairs.
Mr P brought the issue to EWOV. As a result of our investigation, the gas company said it
would consider the matter of a more permanent repair if Mr P provided two quotes. Mr P did that,
but the company rejected both quotes - one because it included road diversion fees - the other
because it was for replacement of the gas pipe, not its repair.
After further negotiation by us, the matter was resolved when the company raised the gas pipe
and placed the sleeve on the water pipe at the best position. It also refunded Mr P the $ $1,650
he'd paid his plumber.
Given the company conceded its work was probably the cause of the damage and that the
clearance requirement, for whatever reason, was not met, it shouldn't have been hard to resolve
this complaint - however, it was open for seven months before agreement was reached.
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