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Drains and drainage

The drains attached to houses, in most cases, meet up with the drains from their neighbours and eventually attach to the main sewer system. But who is responsible for which bit of drain or sewer?

Drain or sewer?

What is the difference between a drain and a sewer, quite simply, a drain is the pipe from the building to the point where it connects with another pipe (usually in a chamber), at which point it becomes a sewer.

Who is responsible for drains and sewers?

• Public sewers are owned and maintained by the sewerage undertaking (Anglian Water Services).
• Private drains are generally owned and maintained by the owner of the building it serves.
• Private sewers are generally owned and maintained proportionately by the owners of all the properties who derive benefit from them.
• Lateral drains and sewers are those parts of a private drain or sewer lying in (under) public land

What do I do if I suspect I have a blocked drain or sewer?

• You should try to locate the point of the blockage by lifting chamber lids in your garden to see if there is any obvious blockage in it.
• If the blockage is in your drain (including the lateral) it is your responsibility to rectify the problem, so you must arrange for its removal. If the blockage is a collapsed pipe, contact a specialist company to affect the necessary repairs.
• If the blockage is beyond your drain contact your neighbours (downstream) and ask them to open their chambers. Follow the flow downstream to either a point where the blockage is apparent or there is no or little flow. If the last chamber before the public sewer is running free contact Anglian Water. It would be reasonable to assume at this point that the problem lies either within the lateral private sewer (you and your neighbours’ combined responsibility) or it lies in the public sewer.
• Look around the area of the (assumed) pipe run for evidence of collapse –dips or holes in the ground, or recent building works, including patios and conservatories.
• Flush toilets and run taps and observe water flow, how quickly it ‘backs-up’, how quickly it ebbs after the flow is stopped.
• Consider hiring a specialist CCTV camera operator to carry out a visual inspection of the pipework and the location of any defects or blockage.
• Make a record of all your actions. These notes should include a sketch plan of the pipework layout, approximate lengths between chambers, etc. take photographs as evidence.
• Remember, you and all your neighbours upstream of the blockage in a private sewer are equally liable for any costs in remedying the problem.
• If the drain or sewer is the responsibility of Anglian Water the blockage must be reported to them for action.
• If you are unsure you should still contact Anglian Water who will generally be able to identify the pipe from their records provided you give them precise details.
• Road drains and gullies are entirely separate to the sewerage system. If you become aware of a suspected blockage of a road drain you should contact the Council Highways Department.

What do I do if I live in rented property?

If you rent your house, your landlord, whether it is a private landlord or a housing association, must be notified immediately. It is then their responsibility to take the appropriate action.

When does the Council get involved?

The council has statutory responsibilities regarding drainage on private sewer and drains which includes the prevention or abatement of a statutory nuisance, maintenance of sanitary conveniences and the cleansing of blocked drains. What this means is that the council will take whatever legal steps are necessary to ensure that problems are rectified. The council does not become involved in arranging for remedial work to be carried out unless this is as a result of legal action having been taken against those responsible for the private drain or sewer.

What form does the legal action take?

The Private Sector Enforcement Officer will carry out an inspection of the drains and sewers involved to ascertain the extent of the problem and to establish who is included in the liability for repair. Those involved will receive a letter detailing their responsibilities and liabilities as well as information on the remedial work to be carried out. If the work is carried out to the satisfaction of the officer, the matter will end there. If the works are not carried out, all parties with a repair liability will be served with a notice requiring the works to be carried out within a specified time.

If the works are still not carried out, the council will arrange for the works to be carried out in default and all parties who have been served notice will be charged for the cost of the works plus the council’s fees. The charge on each party will be the total amount divided equally amongst those involved. The charge will be entered on the land charge for each property, and will remain there until the debt attributed to that property is repaid, at which time the charge will be removed for that property. 

Useful contacts

Anglian Water Services:

• PO Box 46, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 1DB
• telephone: 08457 145145

Peterborough City Council:

• Planning, transport and engineering services - 01733 453467
• Private Sector Housing - 01733 747474

Housing Association tenants should contact their local housing officer, private sector tenants should contact their landlord or letting agent. The council does not supply lists of contractors, you are advised to consult Yellow pages or other local services information to find a private drainage company. It is always advisable to obtain quotations in advance, as costs do vary between companies.