Building Drainage
This section describes responsibility for drainage systems,
which collect wastewater and rainwater from properties.
Your responsibility?
If your property is connected to a main sewer it will drain
through a private drain or private sewer before connecting with the
public sewerage network. The private section is your
responsibility, perhaps jointly with one of your neighbours, and it
is important that you know the extent of this responsibility.
Important changes took place on 1st October 2011,
regarding responsibility for sewer systems. More details can
be obtained from the following link.
South Lakeland District Council does not keep comprehensive
records to show the layout of private drains or sewers. However,
the title deeds to your home may hold plans, or other documents,
which may clarify the extent of your responsibility.
In certain cases, where previous drainage problems have
occurred, the
Environmental Health
Department may hold limited records of the layout of
drains and sewers. The Environmental Health Department can be
contacted on 0845 050 4434 for this purpose.
What is a public sewer?
A public sewer is the responsibility of the water company and
is generally what people refer to as the ‘main sewer’. All public
sewers are shown on a set of maps held by United Utilities. For
advice on the location of these you should contact United
Utilities, Customer Services on 0845 602 0406. To purchase a copy
of these records you should contact United Utilities, Map Services
on 0870 751 0101 or e-mail to
maps.direct@uuplc.co.uk.
These maps can also be viewed electronically at our main
reception desk in
South
Lakeland House, Kendal.
What is a private drain or private sewer?
A private drain or sewer is the series of pipes that connect
your property with the public sewer. Your property may connect
directly with the public sewer or it may join with a number of your
neighbours’ drains before connecting with the public sewer. In law,
the responsibility for private drains and private sewers is
apportioned equally between the properties that use them.
The ownership of land does not alter the responsibility for
private drains or sewers and many home owners/occupiers will be
responsible for a section of sewer that crosses neighbouring land
or lies beneath the road.
What do I do if I suspect that the public sewer is
blocked?
Phone United Utilities, Customer Services on 0845
6020406.
They will ask you some relevant questions to help them decide
if it is their public sewer that is blocked or whether it is your
own private sewer or drain. If they believe the problem lies on
their public sewer, they will normally send someone to unblock it
straight away. If they believe that the problem lies on your own
private sewer or drain then they will suggest that you contact a
local drainage contractor so that you can get it unblocked.
What do I do if my private drain or private sewer is
blocked?
Contact a local reputable drainage contractor who can unblock
it for you. You can find a number of local contractors under
‘drains’ in the local classified directories. Most contractors will
expect payment to be made by one household and for you to collect
equal contributions to the bill from any of your neighbours served
by the private drain or sewer.
If you are unable to gain the co-operation of your neighbours
or do not believe that you are responsible for clearing the
blockage you may wish to contact an officer from the Environmental
Health Department on 0845 050 4434 who can advise you
further.
What do I do if I live in Council accommodation or if my drains
connect with those from Council Housing?
South Lakes
Housing are only responsible for the maintenance of South
Lakeland District Council owned accommodation. Where the drains
from a Council property are known to be blocked, or where sewage is
overflowing on a Council property, South Lakes Housing will
normally arrange for the clearance of any blockage.
Maintenance of South Lakes Housing accommodation is arranged
by their Property Services Group, who can be contacted on 0845 057
0080.
It is important to note that if the drains from your home
connect with those from Council accommodation you will have a share
of responsibility for any blockages on the sections of pipe that
serve both your property and the Council property. If South Lakes
Housing attends a blockage on a private sewer, which also serves
privately owned dwellings, they will normally seek to recharge a
proportion of the costs to any private properties using the
sewer.
If you think that your drains may connect with those from a
Council owned property, but the problem is not apparent on Council
land, you may wish to contact an officer from the
Environmental
Health Department on 0845 050 4434 who can advise you
further.
Who do I need to contact about laying new drains or
sewers?
If you intend to carry out works, to improve or renew the
drainage system around your property, it is important that you seek
the permission of any landowners, whose land you need to cross, and
the owners of any drains/sewers that you want to connect into (see
above). You may also need
Building
Regulations approval for any works that you undertake.
Can I get more detailed information?
For further background information concerning the
responsibility for sewers and drains please refer to our
leaflet