Avoid Digging Up a Hole Lot of Trouble

Northern Gas Networks is urging people across West Yorkshire, the East Riding, the North East and northern Cumbria to ‘think safety’ when working in their gardens over the May bank holiday and avoid digging up trouble.

The north’s gas pipeline owner, and its operating partner United Utilities, are reminding people to take care not to damage their gas service pipes when excavating in their gardens.

The service pipe links the gas main in the street to the gas meter in a property. There are more than two million in the north of England alone, many less than 25mm (1 inch) in diameter.

Last year, United Utilities responded to approximately 1500 incidents of damage to a gas main or service pipe on behalf of pipeline owner Northern Gas Networks. The cost of a repair varies depending on the extent and type of damage and ranges from a few hundred pounds to thousands. The average cost for damage to a gas main last year was £957 and £335 for damage to a service pipe.

United Utilities operates the region’s gas emergency response service on behalf of Northern Gas Networks. United Utilities’ Area Operations Manager, Gordon Thompson, said damaging a gas pipe could be dangerous and costly to individual householders.

“If you damage a gas pipe you must call our emergency service on 0800 111 999. We will send an engineering team to repair the leak but we may charge you for the work. Far better if you take care and avoid making a mistake in the first place,” he said.

“We all want to make the most of bank holiday and it’s a great time to be working in your garden, but please think about what might be underground before you start to dig.

“Your service pipe usually runs from your meter to the gas main in the road. If it’s likely to be in your way, carefully hand-dig a few trial holes to see if you can find out exactly where it is. If you are employing a builder to carry out the work, they should do this for you.”

United Utilities offers a free advice service for people who need more help locating their gas pipes before starting work. Call the dial-before-you-dig service on: 0845 6340508 (9am - 5pm Mon to Fri) or write to:

Plant Protection Section,
Northern Gas Networks,
1 Emperor Way,
Doxford Park,
Sunderland,
SR3 3XR.

If you do happen to hit a pipe, or smell gas, do not panic. Call the national gas emergency service free on 0800 111 999. The emergency service operates 24 hours a day seven days a week.