We have a mains water connection!

Monday 8th December was the day booked and confirmed for our external connection to the water mains that runs parallel to our perimeter wall on Coal Hill Lane.

The connection will complete a project, first discussed amongst the volunteers in 2019 and discussed with Yorkshire Water in 2022.

This moved to the top of the priority list following a near three-month drought this spring, with our trees and new plants being devoid of water. We have five water tanks that when filled can hold 4,000 litres (4 tonnes) of water, but by late spring were reduced to circa 100 litres of water.

Since the start of our reclamation, we have had superb support from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue in filling our tanks, augmented by rain water collection butts. However, it was clear that a permanent “future proof” solution was required.

In previous years, we had heard mentions of an old standpipe, but no trace could be found, even with the help of local water diviners. However, a chance meeting in spring with the Corporate and Social Responsibility team from John Sisk Civil Engineering provided the surveying and drafting of plans that we required.

Joh Sisk have maintained their support throughout the rest of this year, including printing and posting 268 letters to our neighbours a few days ago, requesting that parking in our work area today was avoided, the only situation that would hold up the scheduled work.

With the input of a very experienced volunteer builder assisted by additional volunteers, all the work inside the Rehoboth (this is our responsibility) was completed.

We greatly appreciate the generosity of the Borough of Pudsey Charity in funding materials and equipment for the work inside the Rehoboth.

Here is the Rehoboth diary entry for the day:

“Last night, in heavy rain, our fleet of traffic cones were placed outside the Rehoboth, to provide the working space. The request to keep clear was circulated on our three social media channels.

The abiding memory of the day, is how busy it is under Coal Hill Lane. In the excavated area close to our outside wall are four mains electric cable installations as well as a huge metal gas pipe – but initially no sign of a water mains to connect our piping (that we had drilled through the wall) to.

Fortunately, the extremely helpful team from Avove excavated further into Coal Hill Lane and located the water mains, below the gas pipe and further out than expected. However it is all over bar the shouting, there is 30 minutes drilling tomorrow morning, with no requirement for ourselves to be there, followed over the following one or two days by backfilling and tarmac replacement on the main road.

So, it all worked and we can test our water pressure!!

28th December 2025 Update:

In the two weeks after the water connection was made, we have continued our installation and testing work on the inside of the perimeter wall.

There are two major successes:

The water pressure is more than sufficient for powering our power washer for cleaning memorials, video link below.

The furthest distance to one of our five water storage tanks is just under 200 feet, up a steep hill.

We were delighted to find that our 200 foot hose has sufficient pressure to reach the storage tank as shown in the video link below.