Email to Anglian Water 2nd September 2025

📄 Final Letter

Subject: Formal Complaint – Lead Pipe Replacement via Front Connection (Shared Supply)

Dear Anglian Water Customer Services,

I am writing to require the replacement of the existing shared lead service pipe feeding from the rear. The rear, common supply and shared stop-tap arrangement is obsolete, impractical, and presents a public health and service-continuity risk. The only safe and efficient remedy is to install a new front-facing connection from the main, to be treated as a lead pipe replacement, not as a chargeable “new connection.”

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1) Statutory & Regulatory Basis

Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999

Lead is not permitted in potable supply systems; where lead service pipes exist they must be eliminated and replaced with compliant materials and arrangements.

🔗 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents/made

Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016

Water undertakers must ensure compliance with drinking water quality standards (including the lead parameter). Persisting with a lead service pipe risks non-compliance and necessitates replacement with a compliant route.

🔗 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/614/contents/made

Water Industry Act 1991 – Section 73

Undertakers must maintain an efficient and economical water supply system. Continuing to rely on an obsolete rear shared lead service is neither efficient nor economical. Bypassing it with a direct front-of-property connection is the proportionate way to restore an efficient supply system.

🔗 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/section/73

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2) Precedents & Policy Examples Supporting a Front Connection as Lead Replacement

Anglian Water – Replacement Water Connections

Your published guidance confirms that where the existing service pipe is lead, customers qualify for a free-of-charge replacement connection (not a “new connection”), with Anglian Water replacing its communication pipe while the customer lays their replacement supply to the boundary.

🔗 https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/developing/help-and-advice/what-are-you-planning2/replacing-my-existing-supply/

Anglian Water – Shared Supply Guide (Updated)

Anglian Water’s Shared Supply Guide states that where a shared supply exists, you will “replace the existing shared communication pipe at no cost.” This is your published policy, confirming the obligation to act without charging when replacing obsolete shared pipes.

🔗 https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/siteassets/developers/new-content/water-connections-various/aws-shared-supply-guide.pdf

Drinking Water Inspectorate – Lead Strategy

DWI documents Anglian Water’s lead reduction commitments, confirming regulatory expectation to remove lead supplies across the region.

🔗 https://www.dwi.gov.uk/water-companies/improvement-programmes/anglian-water-improvement-programmes/anh-2023-00021/

Precedent – 63 Canwick Road, LN5 8HE (Lincoln)

This property had its lead pipe replacement delivered by creating a new front-facing connection, rather than trying to maintain the rear shared arrangement. This shows the approach we are requesting is already recognised by Anglian Water as the correct solution.

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3) Why the Front Connection Must Be Treated as Lead Replacement (Not “New Connection”)

Legal compulsion: Lead must be removed; the rear shared route is lead and impractical to remedy without disruption to multiple properties.

Best practicable solution: A front-facing connection retires the lead route and shared stop-tap in one step.

Consistency with your policies: Your published documents confirm free lead replacement connections and that shared communication pipes are replaced at no cost.

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4) Required Action

We therefore require Anglian Water to:

1. Acknowledge that the rear shared lead service is obsolete and non-compliant with the Regulations and must be eliminated.

2. Provide a front-facing connection, free of charge, because this is legally a lead pipe replacement (not a new connection).

3. Confirm programme and dates for works to prevent ongoing risk and service inefficiency.

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5) Escalation

If Anglian Water does not confirm and schedule the above within 5 working days, we will escalate to:

Ofwat

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)

Consumer Council for Water

In addition, we reserve the right to:

Commence legal action to enforce compliance and recover any damages;

Publish all evidence on social media and in the public domain to highlight non-compliance and the public health risks arising from delay.

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Conclusion

This is not a discretionary new connection request. It is a statutory requirement to eliminate lead supply pipes and maintain efficient, lawful supply. The simplest and only safe solution is a front connection, which must be treated as a lead replacement provided at no cost.

Tony saxon

Contact 073777429078