A question about drainage...
Discussion
Hi all. At home I noticed today our downstairs facilities, whilst draining ok, were taking quite some time to drain fully. The other bathroom in the house is normal.
So, based on my knowledge of the foul drain for the downstairs toilet, I went and lifted the drain cover. Sadly I was hit with the sight and smell of a 4/5th full drain!
The drain in question is right up against my boundary with next door, with the direction of flow away from my house and towards next door.
I called my water authority and they are sending a team tomorrow.
The question I could not get answered, which was avoided cleverly and repeatedly by the call centre was: who picks up the tab?
The way I see it is the blockage itself must be 'down stream' from my drain, given its full. So, who pays for what blockages and where?
So, based on my knowledge of the foul drain for the downstairs toilet, I went and lifted the drain cover. Sadly I was hit with the sight and smell of a 4/5th full drain!
The drain in question is right up against my boundary with next door, with the direction of flow away from my house and towards next door.
I called my water authority and they are sending a team tomorrow.
The question I could not get answered, which was avoided cleverly and repeatedly by the call centre was: who picks up the tab?
The way I see it is the blockage itself must be 'down stream' from my drain, given its full. So, who pays for what blockages and where?
Edited by eltax91 on Saturday 15th October 20:46
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Where...
Responsibility for sewers
From 1 October 2011, water and sewerage companies are responsible for all sewers, with some exceptions. They are responsible for:
public sewers
all private sewers and lateral drains that connect to the public sewer
Water and sewerage companies are not responsible for private sewers that:
are connected to a private pumping station and treatment works
carry water directly to a watercourse, like a river, or into the ground (for example, a soakaway)
The Consumer Council for Water website has diagrams showing who is responsible for what after 1 October 2011.
pretty pictures for you to look at
http://ccwater.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_i...
Responsibility for sewers
From 1 October 2011, water and sewerage companies are responsible for all sewers, with some exceptions. They are responsible for:
public sewers
all private sewers and lateral drains that connect to the public sewer
Water and sewerage companies are not responsible for private sewers that:
are connected to a private pumping station and treatment works
carry water directly to a watercourse, like a river, or into the ground (for example, a soakaway)
The Consumer Council for Water website has diagrams showing who is responsible for what after 1 October 2011.
pretty pictures for you to look at
http://ccwater.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_i...
Chrisgr31 said:
As Xlinks links will show its dependent on where the blockade is. If it is a shared pipe (one which carries foul water form more than one house) then it is the water authority's bill. If it is a pipe serving your property only it will be your bill.
Hi, thanks for the advice. We will have to wait to see what seven Trent say, if they ever show up! Is there somewhere online where a punter can access drain layout maps? Probably paranoia, but in these economic times I'm not sure I should take ST's word for who the bill belongs too. I imagine Severn Trent are quite busy with these as the rules only changed a couple of weeks ago. Some people will undoubtedly held off works knowing that in Octoober Severn would be taking on the liability and therefore called them as soon as they became liable thus building up a backlog.
However as the poster above says, pop to the neighbours and lift their manholes too. You may find its something really easy, last time ours blocked the blockage was actually visible in the neighbours manhole and a blast with the hose sorted it.
However as the poster above says, pop to the neighbours and lift their manholes too. You may find its something really easy, last time ours blocked the blockage was actually visible in the neighbours manhole and a blast with the hose sorted it.
The last poster, you are right, they are very busy! The chap who got around to me at 7 says he has been running 16 hour days (as a contractor) to keep on top of the work. He has cleared the blockage for now, coming back tomorrow to put a camera down to check it's not a cracked pipe. He says it is a shared drain, so seven trent's problem. 
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