Mysterious external lead pipe

[Adsibob]

I’ve found an old lead pipe on my property just to the side of my house that Is possibly the source of a water leak causing damp to my wall. We need to remove it as part of a process of elimination to work out what is causing the ground and the wall to be so wet. No idea what the pipe is. Was going to tell builder to just remove it, but he’s nervous in case it is a gas pipe or removing it cuts off somebody’s water. How does one work out what is in an old external lead pipe without risking a gas leak or electrocution??

 

 

[Russell griffiths]

Looks like a water main to me. 

 

If worried it it could be electric why not scrape it gently until you break through to the inside. 

Edited May 1, 2021 by Russell griffiths

[Bonner]

Years ago, I was chopping out a network of old lead pipes from under a suspended floor. Water was already bypassed with new supply, gas wall lights no longer supplied with town gas! However one of them turned out to be our lead sheathed incoming electric main which I cut straight through with a hammer and bolster ? Beware!

[Big Jimbo]

31 minutes ago, Bonner said:

Years ago, I was chopping out a network of old lead pipes from under a suspended floor. Water was already bypassed with new supply, gas wall lights no longer supplied with town gas! However one of them turned out to be our lead sheathed incoming electric main which I cut straight through with a hammer and bolster ? Beware!

`Beware as above. I to have found old electric mains sheathed in lead in the past.

[ProDave]

1 hour ago, Russell griffiths said:

Looks like a water main to me. 

 

If worried it it could be electric why not scrape it gently until you break through to the inside. 

And the water will come squirting out when you break through.

 

Call the DNO if in doubt, I called them to identify an unexpected cable, they were not in the least bit bothered when they found it was a redundant telecoms cable.

[Adsibob]

Thanks @ProDave, but what’s the DNO?

[Nickfromwales]

Distribution Network Owner(s). 
The owners of the cable  

[PeterW]

7 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Distribution Network Owner(s). 
The owners of the cable  

Actually it’s distribution network operator but it’s close enough .. ?

[Nickfromwales]

19 hours ago, PeterW said:

Actually it’s distribution network operator but it’s close enough .. ?

I was half way through a ham and coleslaw sandwich. 
Food first, facts second ???