what's changed with sewers ?

C

carol brown

Active Member
I've learned today that responsibility for certain sewers changed from Local Authorities to Water Companies.
I don't want to continue on the OP's thread but I'm hoping that the person who informed me of the change will help me understand the changes better.

I don't understand which "additional" sewers are now adopted. Is it the post 1937 sewers that are now vested in the water companies, where previously they would have been considered private?
 
BuildingMad said:
Your own private house connections terminate into a main sewer that is shared with other properties & adopted by the water companies.
Click to expand...
Thanks. There used to be a distinction between sewers constructed pre 1937 and those after.
So many more property owners will now no longer be responsible for what used to be considered a Private sewer, if it ran within the curtilage, and was constructed post 1937.
That's useful to know. :) Particularly if I get a blocked shared drain.

Does it apply to all drains including surface water?
Is the determination of a sewer the same ie a drain serving 2 or more properties through single connections.

Say for example, a surface water drain, which is providing a connection for adjoining properties rainwater gutters, through a single downpipe....
If that were to be blocked eg., by tree roots, would it be a water company sewer?
Or would it be considered a private drain, because it's a shared length of single pipework,
irrespective of the number of properties it's serving?

I'm starting to confuse myself now LOL !
 
While on the subject, the water companies assume by default, at least on older properties (but worthwhile checking whatever the age), your surface water runs into the main sewer & charge you accordingly.
If you inform them you have soakaways, your annual bills are reduced & several previous years charges are refunded.
This was the case when I went through the process about 5 years ago & assume nothing has changed.
 
carol brown said:
Thanks. There used to be a distinction between sewers constructed pre 1937 and those after.
So many more property owners will now no longer be responsible for what used to be considered a Private sewer, if it ran within the curtilage, and was constructed post 1937.
That's useful to know. :) Particularly if I get a blocked shared drain.

Does it apply to all drains including surface water?
Is the determination of a sewer the same ie a drain serving 2 or more properties through single connections.

Say for example, a surface water drain, which is providing a connection for adjoining properties rainwater gutters, through a single downpipe....
If that were to be blocked eg., by tree roots, would it be a water company sewer?
Or would it be considered a private drain, because it's a shared length of single pipework,
irrespective of the number of properties it's serving?

I'm starting to confuse myself now LOL !
Click to expand...

In simple terms a pipe with just your water in it is your problem. As soon as that pipe connects to another pipe (usually by entering a chamber) carrying someone else's water then pipe and chamber become water co problem.

It's not all good news however as if you want to build an extension over pipes that are shared you have to get WC permission and building over their chambers is a no-no.
no-no
 
So a single underground drain which is carrying rainwater collected from 2 properties, would be a shared responsibility of each occupant?
Because it's the initial collection drain and isn't a sewer until it reaches a secondary collection branch,( serving more than one initial collection drain), irrespective of it's serving 2 properties?
 
Thanks wildcat, for your post elsewhere, basically it seems as though surface water is a private responsibility until it leaves the curtilage, irrespective of the number of properties served.
 
I knew someone who used a couple of thin metal rods to divine water. He used them to locate septic tanks that had become overgrown and 'lost'- he was oddly very successful :)

Dividing water is more of a superhuman skill I believe LOL
 
Last edited:
carol brown said:
I knew someone who used a couple of thin metal rods to divine water. He used them to locate septic tanks that had become overgrown and 'lost'- he was oddly very successful :)

Dividing water is more of a superhuman skill I believe LOL
Click to expand...
I have often been used by some very large companies for my unique and sought after skills, I couple this up with identifying crop circles, I am very much in demand. I don't believe that there is anyone else in the world like me.
 
bright_Spark said:
I have often been used by some very large companies for my unique and sought after skills, I couple this up with identifying crop circles, I am very much in demand. I don't believe that there is anyone else in the world like me.
Click to expand...
I don't think anyone would argue with you there Bright:)
 
carol brown said:
I don't think anyone would argue with you there Bright:)
Click to expand...
No I don't think you could argue against it. Farmers love me and I am often employed by them to find water for their grazing cattle etc. I love animals so I can often be found roaming around grazing fields in a trance helping out all kinds of grazing animals, they love me too.
 
bright_Spark said:
No I don't think you could argue against it. Farmers love me and I am often employed by them to find water for their grazing cattle etc. I love animals so I can often be found roaming around grazing fields in a trance helping out all kinds of grazing animals, they love me too.
Click to expand...

Do you wear your wellies when around sheep?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top