In article ,
wrote:
Gordon Henderson wrote:
In article ,
BigWallop wrote:

So look at the black pipe again and gently scrape the outside of it with a
small blade to make absolutely sure that it is what you think it is.

So... Thanks for the replies...

Proper investigation has found the following:

It's plastic and black. Not lead - it bends easy and feels
plasticy. Scraping the surface reveals more black plastic!

Outside diameter is very close to 20.5mm. Wall thickness hard to determine
without cutting it, but it's fairly stiff to try to bend. (but it also
has 8 bar inside it)

Are you sure it's not just standard black MDPE pipe for use above
ground? It's identical (in dimensions) with the more common blue
stuff but for use above ground.

It sounds now that that's exactly what it is.

Didn't realise it came in black though which is what put me off the
scent earlier!

It (crudely IMO) comes out of the wall at ground level, is bent sharply
upwards to fit in a narrow gap where the compression fitting to 15mm is,
then the stop-cock and rest of house piping.

The plumbing in this house seems rather ... "creative" and I'm slowly
trying to sort it out..

Thanks,

Gordon