The local housing authority may, if they think fit, give assistance in respect of the provision of a separate service pipe for a house which has a piped supply of water from a water main but no separate service pipe.
The assistance shall be by way of a grant in respect of all or part of the expenses incurred in the provision of the separate service pipe.
The reference in subsection (2) to the expenses incurred in the provision of the separate service pipe includes, in a case where all or part of the works are carried out by . . . water undertakers (whether in exercise of default powers or otherwise), sums payable to the undertakers by the owner of the house, or any other person, for carrying out the works.