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Natural spring

gooders05gooders05 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi i have a natural spring under my cottage, i have a moss area in my lawn where i think it could be under i was wondering how deep is the average dig to get to the water and could i use it as a water feature? Anyone had this  issue? Thanks 
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    At my last house we had a large pond which was fed from the spring further up the hill, and it was connected to a smaller pond, before feeding down onto the lower part of the garden and the neighbouring field.
    It was properly connected up though, as a couple of other properties also used it for the water supply, rather than the well which most of used. 
    Did you have this checked when you bought the property? All these things should be detailed on maps etc, and on deeds. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • iforlewis9iforlewis9 Posts: 4
    I have a problem with a natural spring in my garden, it flows out of the boundary wall and all across the street below mine, I'm worried about when it starts to freeze, the local council won't help neither will Welsh water and in fact have told me that they could sue me, there must be thousands of gallons of water every day coming out of it, I dug a trench to try and drain some of it but it just floods my garden, PLEASE HELP, the stress is making me ill, 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Is this a new spring or have you always had it? If new has something happened locally to start it. Some of our neighburs are now being flooded due to excessive removal of trees which used to soak it up, now it goes onto their property.   Can you get someone in to feed it into a drain?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It seems odd that the authorities are saying they'd sue you.
    Is there something that you've done to alter the situation- as @fidgetbones describes, for example?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • iforlewis9iforlewis9 Posts: 4
    It appeared about 2-3 yrs ago, council fetched old map from 1890 that showed a spring there, when my house was built in 1901 there was no sign of the spring on the maps,that is  when the council told me if water goes in to the lane they could sue me and Welsh water told me that if I run the water into the sewer pipe or drain water pie that they will sue me, the spring moved about6 mths ago so where it was coming up in my garden it is now flowing under garden and out of the boundery wall, as I live on a steep hill it's flowing down lane into the next street and down the road to the next street 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    This may sound a daft question but - are you sure it's the spring?

    If it is though, it seems odd that there was no sign on maps when the house was built, so I wonder if it was diverted in some way, in order for house building? You'd think it might have shown up on deeds though.
    I assume that excessive rain in recent years has possibly led to saturation and serious overflow etc. We used to have a river running down the road when it rained heavily - which was frequently. Also on a hill, so it gathered at the corner further down, and basically leached and dispersed into the surrounding ground/fields.

    I'm not sure how you would proceed with that. It seems ridiculous that you were unaware of the spring, and the council are making you responsible too.  Is it worth contacting the solicitors who dealt with your house sale - for advice if nothing else? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    edited August 2020
    Your Council might have some information leaflets which give the general principles involved. Look for material on riparian rights and responsibilities. It can get quite complex so I think you are going to need proper legal advice and the whole affair could get very costly. As both the Council and the water utility are aware of the issue you can't just ignore it or they will prosecute you. Best to work with them to agree a solution.
  • iforlewis9iforlewis9 Posts: 4
    Thanks for the advice everyone 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Let us know how you get on @iforlewis9.
    I wish you luck, and hope you get a satisfactory outcome. Very difficult for you. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • iforlewis9iforlewis9 Posts: 4
    ThaFairygirl said:
    Let us know how you get on @iforlewis9.
    I wish you luck, and hope you get a satisfactory outcome. Very difficult for you. 
    Thank you,
    I've been talking to a neighbour who has suggested waiting for the weather to get better, so not as much water flowing, then dump a load of concrete on it, I don't know if it will work, but I'm willing to try anything, 
    Fingers crossed 
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