Hello,
a quick question for the collective knowledge, with the most important details and information briefly summarized:
- New construction planned, building permit / planning permission application to be submitted next week
- Street: fully serviced (water, sewage, electricity, gas, etc.), road was resurfaced sometime between 1990 and 2000
- Neighbors all properly connected, but mostly older houses
- Water valve (VA) sign is located on the right side of the fence next to our driveway
I requested a pipeline map from the water utility, but they could not provide one, apparently because there are no suitable documents or maps available. The blue water valve (VA) sign indicates that a water shut-off valve is located on the main line beneath the street. The valve was found exactly where the sign indicates at the roadside (on the opposite side of the street).
During an on-site visit, the water utility representative said there should be a pipe there, but they didn’t know exactly where since it’s not marked on their maps. I was advised to carry out exploratory excavations at my property boundary, where the pipe should be located at about 1.50 meters (5 feet) depth.
The first exploratory excavation at the spot suggested by the employee (slightly to the left of the water valve sign) was unfortunately unsuccessful. I dug a hole approximately 80 cm (31 inches) wide and about 180-190 cm (71-75 inches) deep, also extending somewhat underground towards the sidewalk. I refilled the hole afterward because sand and soil were already crumbling at the edges. I plan to dig a trench to the right of this spot when time permits to continue searching for the pipe.
A detail at the boundary: The sewage maps were also somewhat inaccurate, but I did find the sewer pipe at approximately 1.20 meters (4 feet) depth, extending about 80-100 cm (31-39 inches) onto my property.
Question: What rights or options do I have if I don’t find anything with further exploratory digging? Is there any chance I can require the local water utility to perform its own search for me, ideally at no cost? I got the impression the employee was reluctant to take any initiative here. I’m happy to continue with further excavations, but each time it requires a lot of time, effort, and sweat, especially since we don’t live on-site.
a quick question for the collective knowledge, with the most important details and information briefly summarized:
- New construction planned, building permit / planning permission application to be submitted next week
- Street: fully serviced (water, sewage, electricity, gas, etc.), road was resurfaced sometime between 1990 and 2000
- Neighbors all properly connected, but mostly older houses
- Water valve (VA) sign is located on the right side of the fence next to our driveway
I requested a pipeline map from the water utility, but they could not provide one, apparently because there are no suitable documents or maps available. The blue water valve (VA) sign indicates that a water shut-off valve is located on the main line beneath the street. The valve was found exactly where the sign indicates at the roadside (on the opposite side of the street).
During an on-site visit, the water utility representative said there should be a pipe there, but they didn’t know exactly where since it’s not marked on their maps. I was advised to carry out exploratory excavations at my property boundary, where the pipe should be located at about 1.50 meters (5 feet) depth.
The first exploratory excavation at the spot suggested by the employee (slightly to the left of the water valve sign) was unfortunately unsuccessful. I dug a hole approximately 80 cm (31 inches) wide and about 180-190 cm (71-75 inches) deep, also extending somewhat underground towards the sidewalk. I refilled the hole afterward because sand and soil were already crumbling at the edges. I plan to dig a trench to the right of this spot when time permits to continue searching for the pipe.
A detail at the boundary: The sewage maps were also somewhat inaccurate, but I did find the sewer pipe at approximately 1.20 meters (4 feet) depth, extending about 80-100 cm (31-39 inches) onto my property.
Question: What rights or options do I have if I don’t find anything with further exploratory digging? Is there any chance I can require the local water utility to perform its own search for me, ideally at no cost? I got the impression the employee was reluctant to take any initiative here. I’m happy to continue with further excavations, but each time it requires a lot of time, effort, and sweat, especially since we don’t live on-site.
No one has ever lived on our building plot before, so any existing pipes are essentially "unused." As long as there is no steel pipe, they can apparently be used without problems, according to the staff member. As mentioned, the main purpose was to request a pipe map, which revealed that the water utility is not exactly sure where and how the pipes are located.
However, since a valve is installed on the main water line and a blue water marker with corresponding distance details for the valve is placed directly on our property, it is logical to assume that an (empty) water pipe runs there.
However, since a valve is installed on the main water line and a blue water marker with corresponding distance details for the valve is placed directly on our property, it is logical to assume that an (empty) water pipe runs there.
Read again
I don’t see the compelling logic.
Are there no houses on the opposite side of the street? No houses next to your property?
Why would a branch line be installed to your lot if there has never been a building there before?
AlexAmy schrieb:
No one has ever lived on our building plot, meaning existing pipes are essentially "unused." As long as there is no steel pipe, according to the employee, they can be used without any problems. As I said, the main issue was a request for a pipe map, which revealed that the water utility doesn't know exactly where and how the pipes run.
However, since there is a valve installed on the main water line and a blue water marker with the corresponding distance data for the valve directly on our property, it would logically indicate that an (empty) water pipe should be there.
I don’t see the compelling logic.
Are there no houses on the opposite side of the street? No houses next to your property?
Why would a branch line be installed to your lot if there has never been a building there before?
@Tolentino
Therefore, there should also be a water pipe connected to or on our property (according to the water utility). However, there are no exact records left, and the water utility employee is passing the responsibility to us, basically saying, “Well, you have to find it yourself...”
Is that clear now?
- Our plot is an infill site, meaning the properties on both sides of us are already developed.
- The street was resurfaced a few decades ago, and all usual utility connections (water, sewage, electricity, gas, fiber optic, etc.) are available at each property.
- In front of our plot, there is a blue water marker sign (as with all other properties) indicating the position of the valve.
- The sewage pipe (branching from the main sewer line via a valve) is located about 80-100 cm (31-39 inches) on our property, found through exploratory excavation.
Therefore, there should also be a water pipe connected to or on our property (according to the water utility). However, there are no exact records left, and the water utility employee is passing the responsibility to us, basically saying, “Well, you have to find it yourself...”
Is that clear now?
I don’t think it’s necessarily the case; the valve there could also be for the neighboring houses. I don’t believe they would have proactively installed a branch line for a potential building gap. But I’m also from Berlin.
What kind of price difference does that make anyway?
What kind of price difference does that make anyway?
For every building plot, there is a water shut-off valve and a wastewater shut-off valve located on or near the street, each marked with a water or wastewater sign at the respective property boundary. This raises the question of responsibilities. If a shut-off valve is installed, there is usually a pipe connected to it—otherwise, the valve would make no sense and would be installed completely unnecessarily.