OK, so looms like we have a major blockage (and the stench makes me heave!!) Having looked at Severn Trent website, its a bit vague...legoslation changed 2011 to make utility co more responsible and its now shared. They talk about 'The home owner is responsible for maintaining most sewer pipes in a property boundary.' and 'The responsibility for the maintenance of pipes and drains is split between us – the water company – and home-owners. As a home-owner, you are responsible for most pipes and drains within your property boundary. If you rent your home, you should contact you landlord or letting agent to resolve issues involving pipes and drains as it will be their responsibility if the problem is on private land.' But the when you look at the changes in 2011 they say its from the house to the sewer So will they try and changer me? It is an outside drain that takes water from a roadside drain, then ours joins, carries on to pick up more of our waste then heads out the garden towards the river
If your drain is shared with another property United utilities will clear/ make repair free of cost However if you drain is dedicated to your property solely, you will have to meet the costs yourself When you phone United utilities it’s the first question they’ll ask.
Generally speaking I think you are responsible until it meets the main sewer Hopefully it does not go in the river either.. If the block is between your house and sewer - you pay and if its main sewer they pay If its outside your property - but still the line dedicated to your property but before sewer - so say in pavement - they may pay or ask you to contribute. Really depends how friendly they guys are who come and jet it.. and inspect then..
If it is a shared drain (with another/other properties) it isn't always down to the water company to clear it.....it depends on the designation of the drain (ie, private drain, private sewer, public sewer etc). Many times it is the responsibility of all those that share the drain. Normally, if the drain is solely for one property, then the water company's responsibility is only for the 'lateral' connection to the public or water company's drain/sewer outside that property's boundary. Anything inside the property boundary is for the property owner to deal with. However, in Bradder's case, I am not quite sure what sort of drain he is talking about.......a road drain for surface water should not connect to any property's drainage and vice versa........neither should a surface water drain carry waste water (ie sewage or foul water) from any property at any time unless it is designated as a 'combined' sewer. Neither should sewage or foul water be discharged into a river (although the Thames does have an exclusion when combined sewers cannot cope). Fortunately I have two sets of drain rods, which total almost 30m in length. Even more fortunately, I have a Klargester Sewage Treatment unit and a licence to discharge 'clean' water into a ditch. Borrow some drain rods and have a go yourself before phoning. PS. Always turn them clockwise.
I had a blocked drain (outside) that carried the kitchen sink water away. I called the Severn water switchboard who sent the truck a few hours later. I gave the guys tea when they arrived, chatted and they then told me the drain was blocked, it was my responsibility, but they were there, had the gear and fixed it. Hopefully you will get the same type of treatment.
It is a drain that carries rain water thru the outside, bit in my boundary, of my property. looking at the 2011 changes, it suggest that from my house to the drain, or the pipe that runs in the building and exits to the drain, is down to me. Otherwise, it’s ST. however, if the house was built AFTER 2011, it would be a wholly private sewage system and home owner is liable. tbh I’m more worried about having a collapsed drain under the extension than a couple hundred quid for a good rodding. btw the river comment was just to demonstrate we are at the bottom of a hill so all our drainage includes run off rain water as a minimum and one includes waste (but that hidden behind my shed and does t drain anything for us)
That’s the best way to go about it. If they decide you’ll have to pay they’ll let you know first, so you can either go with them or one of the many drain cleaning companies out there. In our last house the man hole was in our garden and the drain ran under the lawn picking up our neighbours then on to the main drain in the road. They cleared it free of charge when we moved in and again when it was determined tree roots were causing the blockage. Saying that there’s something very rewarding getting your wellies on, your rods out and clearing it yourself.
If you've got a pressure washer for the car/patio you can buy a drain jetting head and hose to pressure clear it, might be easier and more efficient than old fashioned rods.
Best if you can work up to the blockage from the downstream end. Gets a bit messy otherwise. I’m not sure from your post @bradders what’s in the pipe where it’s blocked? Water off highways, including footways verges and any highway land like embankments is normally kept in Highway Drainage, though can go into Public Sewers (Maintained by the water company). Drainage from houses and gardens tends to be private (Owned by the householder) within the property boundary if only serving one property. If serving two or more properties they tend to be Public Sewers. The water company should have sewer records which distinguish between these.
there is an IN pipe which appears to come from a storm drain on the road, then ours connects to it form the side, then it carries on again. Its toilet waste I can see, but I suspect its blocked further 'downstream' When they can back to me, we'll see what they say. The 2011 regulatory suggests that it's their responsibility: mine ends once its left my 'property'* *this is the grey bit - can be read as actual internal property pipes or grounds.
In case anyone is interested. If to connects to a public sewer, its down to the utility business, according to this: https://assets.publishing.service.g...56/private-sewers-transfer-guidance110928.pdf
