Judging by my experience today with the Affinity man, its standby Dominic - there's everything you need for a gut-wrenching, 12- episode, emotionally seering pot-boiler (Hah !).

 

Affinity man has just stormed-off in a huff (I think he arrived with a grump on)  because I said the newly installed  external SC was full of water, whilst he maintained the fact that I could turn-off the water and it was flowing inside and that should be sufficient.

 

He kept on saying this during our brief confab. I said it can't be right to leave it like this. You didn't leave like this when you installed it - its was dry as a bone.

 

I eventually, got so ****ed I said don't scam me mate, a which point, he took the opportunity to depart saying I was rude.

 

This this a big rufty-tufty water man, who incidentally, looks a bit like Don Rickles (But not the same sense of humour)

 

How more delicately, could I have phrased it. Perhaps, dear John style "Have you got a water problem, dear ?  do unburden yourself."

 

As I explained to the Customer Service bod on the phone yesterday, I can't afford to take health risks with water quality being two months post Lymphoma chemotherapy.

 

Here are the photos, you judge:-

 

New installation

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/narobs/25119860861/in/datetaken/

 

 

 

Today

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/narobs/25186779596/in/datetaken/

 

 

Nick

 

 

 

Mine looks similar. The lid seal isn't 100% water tight.

Now if it was full to the brim, then you'd have a leak.

Most of the ones I've seen locally, are not like that.

 

Furthermore, my property is on a slight slope and  the natural tendency is for accumulated water to  drain away, whatever  the source, rain or leaking pipes.

 

It might me a different kettle of fish if I was in a valley bottom.

 

And what's more, there's been no substantial rain round here for months, so I'd be astounded if the normal groundwater level was that high.

 

You may be able to take the health risk, I can't. And, I can't afford to buy bottled water all the time. So, until its fixed I will have to boil it.

 

If I pump it out today and, as before, it fills by tomorrow, then surely Affinity can't resist those facts without being inconsistent.

 

 

Nick

 

 

.

 

And another first in 35 years,  I got a letter addressed to "Dear Home mover" from Arnotts removers.

 

Delhi looks a good bet - at least its water supply will be properly repaired.

 

 

Nick

Edited 23 February, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

Late PM: Now pumped-out (Or as much as I can get out).

 

Water below bottom edge of blue pipe (Looks like the Communication and supply pipe are blue plastic !):-

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/narobs/25189504866/in/dateposted-public/

 

It looked to me if water was trickling in from the street side.

 

So what to do, wait until the public footpath collapses as it did 25 years ago ?

 

Or persist with the reporting ?

 

If it refills by tomorrow morning, I'm contacting them again.

 

Nick

Everyday, in every way, my water security is getting better and better.

 

Just replaced the monobloc in the kitchen - 4.5 hours. No wonder plumbers hate that job.

 

Just getting the old tap out was relatively easy  @ 1 hour, even though it had one of those wopping 35 mm ring nuts holding the tap to the stainless drainer. It was getting the olives and compression fittings off of the plumbing copper pipes that was a real sod. Had to resort to the pipe cutter. Luckily the new flexible tails were just a little bit longer than the  things soldered to the old monobloc.

 

Obviously, in doing that, I had to turn the external SC off again - water level has risen since 16:00 to half way-up the SC - I would guess that by tomorrow the SC will be fully submerged as in the photo earlier today.

 

I must say that, doing these few odd jobs has given me  clues as  to what will be needed when I come round to doing the bathroom, which will be a more major undertaking.. The miniature disc cutter will definitely come into its own as far as pipe cutting is concerned.

 

Affinity water, Nil points, Clunkclick deux points in two days.

 

 

Nick

Edited 23 February, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

For interested parties, this is why integrity of water supply pipework (i.e. no leaks ) is really important. Probably more important than water pressure or water flow:-

 

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/leaky-water-pipes-contaminants-drinking-water-1.470248

 

A leaky water supply network, even if the majority of leaks are minor, has the potential to systemically give a large number of people ill-health, sometimes on a long-term basis, through the ingestion of biologically active pathogens from the soil and from waste water systems.

 

Why do you think there's such a push on in Third World countries to get a clean water supply ?

 

 

Nick

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01356.x/pdf

 

Who would have guessed ?

 

Transmission of Heliobacter Pylori (Which causers gastritis, duodenal ulcers and cancer and which the hospitals now routinely test for on new admissions (They did for me) ) can be water borne !

 

Nick

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwi7quOow5rLAhUJuBQKHYaDC1gQFggiMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unison.org.uk%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F06%2FOn-line-Catalogue216213.pdf&usg=AFQjCNE62EUL8gmBF-yif9oWOEl9xbc7WA&bvm=bv.115339255,d.bGs

 

This report may offer some explanation of why privatised water companies are reluctant to tackle all leaks.

 

In summary, the report appears to say that, since Water Industry privatisation in 1989, water charges haver risen 300%, whilst the Retail Prices Index has risen by only 200%. And that, whilst annual water bills are lower than other iutlities e.g. gas and electric, that proportionally their charges have risen much more than the other utilities.

 

The report also says that the water companies are under investing, are retaining a ridiculously small percentage of their profit for future investment and are distributing the Lion's share of their profit as dividends to shareholders. One consequence of this is, that any investment that is being made, the majority of the finance is being produced by deficit financing  through bond issues.

 

Also, the leak reduction targets set by the regulator are pathetically low and, even then, some of the companies are failing to meet the targets.

 

Apparently, Affinity, who in the earlier incarnation, were publicly quoted on the Stock Exchange, are now a jointly UK/US offshore owned  Private Equity concern, who have British Merchant Bank, Morgan Stanley as one of its principal owners.

 

No wonder they are unconcerned with the continuing water leak at my location.

 

Potable water testing strips (For bio and chemical agents) ordered from the South American company.

 

 

Nick

Edited 28 February, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

The UK water pipeline has consistently leaked 30% of the water pumped into it for decades, and no government has ever tried to really get it fixed.

 

Remember that during your next hosepipe ban.

But water companies are fined heavily for not dealing with leaks so it's in their interests to deal with them ASAP

BACK ON TOPIC - AEG Lavamat.

 

I believe I have now narrowed down the fault with the control fascia keys, courtesy of a You Tube video about a MayTag (Brand owned by Electrolux now ?)machine with a similar fault and some further testing, to a faulty key controller chip.

 

By entering the machine's "Diagnostic mode" (As described in a previous post), and then pressing any of the Control fascia keys  a single numeric key is returned in the Fascia LED display. This, I understand is the "Key code" for the button. 

 

By running "Diagnostic mode" several times in succession, I built-up a matrix of key codes returned by pressing each key on each run. It soon became very evident that about 66% of the keys weren't returning the same key-code (Or in some cases were returning no key code at all) on every run and that this was associated either a button malfunctioning and operating another keys function or simply not operating at all.

 

The "Dodgy" keys were Soak, Time Saving, Stain and Spin, which happened to be on the same branch of one PCB circuit "Line" and Dry and Time Delayed Start. 

 

Only Prewash, Door(Start) and Drying consistently returned the same key codes on successive runs, respectively, 9.7 and 8

 

Looks like I'm into a new fascia control board @ £75.

 

For info, I the key-code allocation which presented when all the fascia keys appeared to be  operating correctly was as follows (Position of buttons starting LHS, moving RHS, in 3 files per breaks below):-

 

Prewash        9

Soak              6

Time Saving  5

Stain              4

 

Spin               3

Dry                 1

 

Door(Start)     7

Drying Time    8

Delayed start  2

 

But, even that does look right to me, given the layout of the buttons RHS to LHS.

 

Nick

Edited 28 February, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

The UK water pipeline has consistently leaked 30% of the water pumped into it for decades, and no government has ever tried to really get it fixed.

 

Remember that during your next hosepipe ban.

With a million extra population in London, let alone the rest of the country, this issue is going to become even more significant.

 

The regulator has set leakage reduction targets, but they are derisory.  According to the report Water Companies would need £100 billion to fix all the current leaks and its estimated that only 50% of these would remain fixed for any length of time. This wouldn't be a case of some parts of industry supplying a former public concern with badly designed and  defective products, would it - where would the precedent for that be ? (Legs go weak due to excessive laughing).

 

Nick

That won't deal with contaminants entering the water mains from leaks downstream of the treatment works.

 

Nick

Apparently this algae is not killed by water treatment, and grows again in the presence of air.Severn  Trent advise wiping tap mouths with Milton ,but don't won't advertise this too well . We find the algae regularly in the water filter jug we've bought to combat this .

We've had algae in our filter jug as well - another ST customer!!

 

We havent had any this winter, so either the algae doesnt like the cold, or ST have fixed all of the local leaks (they should have - the number of times they have had the roads dug up around here!!)

No evidence of algae build-up in my place on either taps or water jug, only mild calcium deposits (Electro-magnetic water confditioner fitted).

 

And, yesterday, I was able to use the water testing kit I ordered from the SAC - designed for swimming pool use.

 

The electronic meter showed, Total Dissolved Solids 310parts per million (Normal range 150-420ppm). Water is unfit for consumption at over 500ppm

 

And the biological testing strips showed clear.

 

Unfortunately, Affinity's latest Water Report for my postcode was not available for viewing or download.

 

I'm still going to keep boiling the drinking water till I've had words with him or herself at my first call-back clinic in early March.

 

Even given the results above, I'm still not happy having an active leak, where's there's a risk of either a repeat of the subsidence of the public footpath or undermining of the slab foundation of my place. Unlike the advert, I doubt if my fabric insurer will be keen on assisting me to get the "Fudge out of Rog" if this is happening and is permitted to roll-on.

 

 

Nick

Edited 29 February, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

I honestly cannot believe what an epic drama this has become and how long it's dragged on for.

I can. Years ago there was a jovial song about "the day the gas man came to call". These days it's the Waterboard Man.

Water meters- might be cheaper, but I think you'll find that a lot of LA forbid them .

Years ago ,there was a joke in Highland communities about a board being spotted in the water. Question was "does it move" - no-must be the Development board. Now down south the HDB can be replaced by the name of local Water board. Water might move, whilst the Board stagnates in small backwater pools.

Utilities shareholder are we ? Dissing the messenger, ain't going to change the facts.

 

Thank you for your review of the alternative meaning of the word "Boards". I'm sure Giles Brandreth will be penning a letter advocating a revised entry in the OED. But I would dispute your inherent proposition that behaviour equivalent to "Sitting on Uncle Jimmy's knee" is a panacea for long-term problem resolution, as many at the BBC have recently found out , it does the complete opposite and, giving it a reasonably stiff ignoring, only serves short-term to tick the career progression boxes of those who should have acted.

 

1500 views of this thread.

 

Dare I say it can't have been all that unattractive or irrelevant to many peoples overall experience. But, ultimately, the "Powers" that be have available to them the ultimate editorial sanction in locking threads and banning authors/contributors for unsuitable, offensive or malicious material. I take it that this threshold hasn't been reached yet.

 

Perhaps, some of the topics referred to here offer those in similar positions, a take on how certain institutions operate today, which for once in 35 year events like this, they wouldn't otherwise get aired. Isn't that a small part of the function of these here Brisky fora ?

 

Can I suggest, for those who see this type of post as ancient history, side-show-Bob, or irrelevant to their needs, to patiently stand aside and switch to another channel, because others may see it as relevant to their experience.

 

Its certainly not irrelevant down here in "The smoke" where infra-structure has been regularly going "Kamikaze" over the last 15-20 years - witness the electricity cable explosion in High-Holborn and many others all over London. In my experience as a Londoner of 60 years, these type of events on this scale and frequency, have been unprecedented before this current period.

 

Certainly what I have learned about various institutions and how they provide their various "Services" nowadays has more than mildly irritated me.

 

Most of the  origins  of the problems and the delayed or incomplete problem resolution lies with third parties, either not doing their jobs, doing them without due care and attention, or doing them incompletely, for multifarious reasons both corporate and personal.Something which Ms Anne Robinson pursues on a regular basis on the TV.

 

Apologies, but if I could have avoided the domestic duties (Which are, lets face it, very tedious) that have arisen (And my reporting of them), consequently, over the last two months, I would have. But like the electrification of the West Coast mainline, what started as a single isolated job, quickly mushroomed into lots of problems in other areas, some consequential on the fixing of the initial problem.

 

Looks like my particular issues are coming to resolution and the issue of a letter to the CEO of  Affinity, replacement of an electronic board in the washing machine and fixing/replacing the  taps that started malfunctioning (As a result of the first fix) will put it all to bed.

 

On a personal level, I feel that I have been dealing with my own mini-crisis, no less important  to me than the sort of large scale major incident events  that the emergency services have been rehearsing for in London last week.

 

And, of course, with my recent health issues, I have to be a bit more critical than the average joe, about what goes down my pie-hole.

 

But, I'm happy to be advised differently, but, I take it, that you just don't get it up there in wild and remote bonny North-West Scotland and that its all smooth sailing, 18-hole rounds and taking a dram with the Laird ?

 

Paraphrasing what the compere at this year's Oscars said, when you're having the carp kicked out of you on a regular basis, you don't have much time for anything else.

 

Nick

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

Following my e-mail last night to Affinity's CEO, I understand that engineers will be attending at 10:00 this morning to test the water for pollutants. I'm told that samples will be taken from the kitchen tap and from the external stop-**** enclosure.

 

Postscript

 

Two teams pitched -up.

 

Community support team and Water Quality Team  - advised that results will be notified next week.

 

 

What a difference in the response !

 

 

Nick

Edited 4 March, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

OMG

 

 

Lets hope the feeder reservoir supplying my place, does not draw from this:-

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35705345

 

http://allaboutalgae.com/what-are-algae/

 

 

Talk about one door closes another opens.

 

Lots more work for Cornflake manufacturers then.

 

 

Nick

 

 

 

Week-End work !

 

Undid, and  PTFE'd the olive and cap-thread of  the hot-tail compression joint on the newly installed kitchen monobloc which had been "Weeping" slightly @ about 150mls per 8 hours. A small leak, but sufficient to rot part of a chipboard kitchen cabinet if left unaddressed. I left it a week with a tupper ware box underneath acting as catcher, in the hope that it might sel itself. But it didn't so off it came and the PTFE + a couple of extra nips with the adjustable spanner fixed it.

 

Lesson here for water suppliers ? Who knows ?

 

Hopefully, this week Affinity will be piping through the results of the various water quality tests on the samples they took from the house on Friday and I will also learn the results from the data loggers they advised they were installing on the water main (To detect leaks). I did say to them why not use a coloured food-dye or ultra-sonics, but there you go, they know their business.  Checked the external SC yesterday and now its nearly completely submerged by clear water. So I would conclude that the either the rate of the leak from wherever has increased or the underground drain path has become obstructed.

 

Made a start on the next job, so now the Bosch dishwasher is in bits in the kitchen awaiting the supply of various parts, door hinges and bushes, new outer front door, undertray, door and cabinet seals, all of which were either rusted, broken or worn to buggery - pretty grim toll for a 7 year machine with 3,000 uses approx. on the clock.

 

 

Nick

 

 

Affinity's water engineers have been in attendance the last two days, I'm told doing testing of the integrity of the mains and communication pipes in the vicinity  - using a system called enigma !

 

No startling discoveries, I'm told, but they have found a small spike in the readings which has been narrowed down to a location between 30 metres up the road and my property. I'm told the spike is indicative of a leak.  

 

So, over the next five days, I'm told that the road's going will be lifted in these two locations, the communication pipe feeding my external SC and its joint with the mains with is going to be replaced in toto and the  location outside the Church will be investigated for leaks.

 

I lay money on it that they will find a whacking great hole at either or both of these locations when the lift it - 'cause this is exactly what happened 25 years ago.

 

Got advice from  a senior at affinity's water testing section that the samples taken from the kitchen monobloc had normal PH and chemical composition and that it was free of biological elements e.g. e-coli etc.

 

Gradually getting there.

 

 

Nick

Lets hope they dont accidentally dig up/break the gas/electric/phone lines

No phretting now !

 

Its all been measured and  marked out. The engineer was using a surveyors wheel, using my external stop-valve enclosure as the reference point.

 

I think most of my connections to the telephone, gas and electricity are well  clear of the excavation zone, so all they got to worry about is the main cables, conduit, pipes and foul sewer etc in the road and the footpath.

 

I'm told the team that's doing the job are the emergency crew any way - so if they **** it up they'll fix it.  It won't be Time team, with them stopping every five minutes to apply the trowels and the brushes, but they are doing that sort of stuff every day of the week.

 

And what's more, they managed to do the repair 25 years ago without incident and without the aid of the magnetic sensing wands, although, that said, because the footpath had all fallen in they at least at sight of what was near-to-hand underground. If, as part of the previous repair to the pavement, back-filled that repair with modern materials, rather than the claggy Middlesex clay, then tomorrow's excavation may be a  bit easier.

 

Anyway, I'm out of it early AM, Phlebotomy at NPH calls.

 

At least , if I come back to a pile of smashed-up masonry, broken  timber, shattered glass and tiles and rsj's askew, it will take out the usual guessing as to  who's done what to whom and when. That's a Step-up.

 

 

Nick

Edited 8 March, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

 

No phretting now !

NO- That was said in parts of Corby/Kettering some twenty years ago. I turned up at a school , in residence to do work I'd not be allowed to do with kids on premises, to find about 60% of the UK British Gas blokes on planet earth around the school. Apparently, the water board bods   had punctured the main gas main in the town, and gas fires were spouting WATER.