It's easy to avoid blockages, just remember to bin any item that's not pee, poo, or toilet paper. If you think a sewer is blocked, please get in touch and report this to us on 03457 145 145. If a company stop-tap has been fi… A lateral drain is a length of pipe which carries wastewater away from your property to a sewer. Perhaps the best way to obtain this information is to contact your local water authority, which is also the organization that would be responsible for any problems that may arise with shared drains. Responsibility for the pipework that supplies clean water is shared between property owners and water companies. Misconnected pipes allow nasty wastewater and chemicals to drain away into rivers and streams, damaging the environment and harming wildlife. If you live in a shared apartment or flats and have a drainage issue, please don’t hesitate to contact your landlord first. If you have a shared sewer, try asking your neighbours if they have a problem. VAT registration no GB 537-4569-15. ... it may be on a shared section of pipe and Thames Water will be responsible. © 2001 - 2021 Thames Water Utilities Limited. Property owners are responsible for the pipes in the homes and the ones connecting to our sewers. They can be found in driveways, gardens, roadside verges and other areas. If someone is available to chat, a link will appear to the right of the screen. Responsibility for sewers and drains is shared between property owners, water and sewerage companies, local authorities and the Highways Agency. However, Thames Water has issued this guidance note: After all, life flows better when you bin it - don’t block it. If you’ve spotted a drain that’s leaking sewage outside and endangering wildlife or the environment, please call us on 0800 316 9800 as soon as you can. Another way to check and see if you have a shared drain is to check with the sewage company that services your area. It’s important that you try and identify where the problem is, as this can save you unnecessary callouts. If you lift the manhole cover outside your property and the drain is clear, it's likely that suggesting the blockage is within your home. If any work restricts or removes the ability for Thames Water Fat, oil and food leftovers that solidifies in pipes. A sewer collects water and waste from the drains of a number of buildings. We'll aim to do this within 48 hours. The short video above gives an overview of the sewer transfer. If you have a drain that is shared with your neighbour, the water authority will be responsible for the shared drain as well as the lateral drains (red). There are three different types of water pipes. Your upstairs facilities are impacted but downstairs is working - this suggests an internal blockage. You are only responsible for the drain on your property that is not shared (purple). Thames Water has statutory powers, which gives us the right to maintain, repair, replace and renew public sewers on private land under Section 159-171 of the Water Industry Act 1991. If your pumping station does not meet the criteria, please contact our Developer Services team. THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED Notice of proposal to adopt private sewers and lateral drains To: The owner(s) of private sewers and lateral drains Thames Water Utilities Limited (a company registered in England and Wales under number 02366661, with its registered office at Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading, RG1 8DB) Sewers are only designed to take water from your toilets, sinks, baths and showers along with human waste and toilet tissue. You'll still be responsible for any internal plumbing and the section of pipe leading to the transferred sewer. If it's our responsibility, we’ll: If it's not our responsibility, we’ll contact the relevant authorities or point you in the right direction so that it gets sorted as quickly as possible. Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading RG1 8DB. VAT registration no GB 537-4569-15. Our video explains more about private pumping stations and what the transfer involves. In some cases it will be difficult to determine where a blockage is. If they don’t, it’s likely that the problem is on your section of pipe or waste plumbing. Does this benefit customers? Company number: 02366661. Thames Water Utilities Limited Registered in England and Wales. How you're affected by the transfer of private sewers depends on the type of property you live in. During the early 19th century the River Thames was an open sewer, with disastrous consequences for public health in London, including cholera epidemics. ... Appliances such as washing machines - and even toilets - can be connected to the wrong pipes, meaning untreated water drains directly into rivers and coastal waters. You notice a bad smell coming from your drains. A blockage may be the property owner’s responsibility if: It may be our responsibility if we have public sewers in the area and at least one of the following applies: If you think you have a blockage within your drains or sewer, we recommend you contact a plumber. Leave leftover cooking oil, fat and food to cool and put it in the bin. Company number: 02366661. Our contractor, Lanes Group, may offer to clear it at a cost of £117. That connecting pipe is usually our responsibility. Since 1 October 2011 responsibility for the clearance of blockages and repairs to drains outside of your property boundary and to most shared drains is the responsibility of Thames Water. Investigation may need to be carried out by the housholder or Thames Water to determine which party is … This means the ownership and maintenance for previously private sewers, lateral drains, and pumping stations meeting the criteria transferred to us. Due to a law change in 2011, the sections of sewers and pipes you share with your neighbours, plus pipes outside your property boundary connecting to our existing network, are now our responsibility. Following a change in the law in 2011, we became responsible for private sewers/drains from 1 October 2011 and private pumping stations which meet the eligibility criteria from 1 October 2016. 1. The green pipe is the responsibility of the property owner, while the pink pipe is the responsibility of Thames Water. Thames Water Utilities Limited Registered in England and Wales. Following a change in the law in 2011, we became responsible for private sewers/drains from 1 October 2011 and private pumping stations which meet the eligibility criteria from 1 October 2016. If a drain on your property is shared with a neighbour, then Thames Water are responsible for it, even if it is in your garden. Registered Office: Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading RG1 8DB. The property doesn’t share a drain with any other property. Thames Water Utilities Limited Registered in England and Wales. Remember the three Ps: pee, poo and (toilet) paper – nothing else should be flushed! Wet wipes – even the ones labelled ‘flushable’ block your pipes. Terraced or semi-detached houses. It’s usually located outside your property boundary, often under a public pavement or road. Your neighbour may not know that the rules changed in about 2011, so shared drains are no longer his responsibility. 2. Take medicines, tablets, syringes and needles to your pharmacist, hospital or health authority for safe disposal. On 1 October 2011, legislation introduced by the government transferred responsibility for private sewers and lateral drains to Southern Water –providing clear ownership and better long-term maintenance for the sewer network. It is logical that when Thames Water were required to adopt their region’s shared drains (sewers) last year, then they adopted them whatever the condition that they were at the time and therefore at their future responsibility. All rights reserved. Clean up and put a prevention plan in place. Thames Water: Private Sewer: A drainage pipe which serves two or more properties: Thames Water: ... property owners and Thames Water. Southern Water will always attend to issues on the shared section and carry out the necessary work to maintain the sewer network. If you’ve spotted an issue within your drains this Autumn and are unable to resolve it yourself with home remedies, then our expert engineers are available to visit your property. This means the ownership and maintenance for previously private sewers, lateral drains, and pumping stations meeting the criteria transferred to us. Thames Water If you have a problem and you believe that the cause lies outside your property, or is in a drain shared with your neighbours, you should contact Thames Water on 0845 717 1100 who will advise further and arrange for work to be carried out if it is their responsibility. Private Contractors Work If a private contractor attends and highlights there is an issue on a shared The property doesn’t share a drain with any other property. We’ll ask you: When you call us, we’ll confirm responsibilities and let you know what the next steps are. Water mains are the large company pipes that distribute water around the network. Company number: 02366661. You find it difficult to flush your toilet. Take immediate action to fix it. The problem is outside your property boundary, More than one property is experiencing problems. For example, your bathroom waste may travel down a pipe from your toilet – the home-owner’s responsibility – to another pipe that runs along a terrace of houses and takes that waste to the public sewer. Or, one of our dedicated Live Chat agents will be happy to help you. i.e. Take chemicals, solvents, engine oil and paint to your local refuse or recycling site. Blocked road gullies are the responsibility of Herts County Council. pipes used by more than one property) have become the responsibility of Thames Water to maintain. The green pipe is the responsibility of the property owner, while the pink pipe is the responsibility of Thames Water. However, Thames Water has issued this guidance note: Whether sewage is entering a river or any other watercourse. The heading of this thread - "Thames Water takeover of private drains and sewers" - is a little misleading. They will be able to get in touch with us, or if it’s a lateral or sewer issue then it would be your local water company, such as Thames Water. A lateral drain might run under your property if you share a sewer with your neighbour. Learn more about what we’re doing to prevent blockages and how you can avoid blockages at home. You're still responsible for the sections of pipe between your property/building and the transferred private sewer or lateral drain. Share our findings with the Environment Agency, who look after all of England’s waterways. Responsibility for a lateral drain. in a private or a lateral drain. When wastewater is unable to flow away it can come back up from the toilet or sink, flooding your home. There is no other flooding in the local area. If you believe you have a station that may meet the eligibility criteria, we need you to let us know. Communication pipes carry water between the water mains and the boundary of private property. Company number: 02366661. Many home insurance providers or home protection includes drainage cover, so they may also be able to help. You can then watch one of the videos below that show how each property type is affected. Everything else should be put in the bin. Public sewers and drains. Blockages in pipes can be nasty, stopping waste from leaving your property. Pumping stations come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading RG1 8DB. ... it may be on a shared section of pipe and Thames Water will be responsible. Sanitary items, including towels and tampons. Since October 1 st 2011 almost all sewers (i.e. c) A House Owner is solely responsible for a Private Drain and a Lateral Drain. The big change will be where sewers run under private land and more than one property drains into that sewer. Thames Water Utilities Limited Registered in England and Wales. You are ONLY responsible for the drains on your property that are not shared with a neighbour. If it’s a lateral or sewer issue, then it would be your local water company that will need contacting, for example Thames Water. Shared drains where several properties' drains meet together before they join the public sewer are also our responsibility to maintain - so if you suspect that this is blocked, please Contact us What your local authority is responsible for: road gullies; these are small grate-covered openings at the edge of roads, and are used to drain surface water from the highway. Thames Water: Private Sewer: A drainage pipe which serves two or more properties: Thames Water: ... property owners and Thames Water. Some homes or businesses have drainage systems with pumps located inside large manholes, also known as wet wells, that pump the wastewater into the nearest sewer network. Your neighbours aren't experiencing problems with their drains. It may be our responsibility if we have public sewers in the area and at least one of the following applies: The problem is outside your property boundary. All rights reserved. These signs may indicate it's in your home: We repair and clean the pipes that carry wastewater from your street to our treatment works. Just click on the type of property you live in from the list below. In most cases we’re responsible for the large sewers running under roads and pavements and the drains above them. If you think you have a problem with a sewer pipe or drain, please carry out the following steps. They are often, but not always, laid under highways. It is logical that when Thames Water were required to adopt their region’s shared drains (sewers) last year, then they adopted them whatever the condition that they were at the time and therefore at their future responsibility. The DRAINS will still be the responsibility of home owners where they run under your garden, until they meet the sewer. Responsibility for the clearance of blockages and repairs to drains outside of your property boundary and to most shared drains is the responsibility of Thames … Registered Office: Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading RG1 8DB. If we investigate a blockage and it's in a section of pipework that's your responsibility, our engineer will discuss this with you. This means you'll need to resolve it yourself. Registered Office: The station must serve multiple curtilages, or boundary, of different freeholds. We will try and clear the blockage contractor you are talking to, as they are often able to carry out work for you and make the claim on your behalf. Sewers and drains. Building without consent from Thames Water may impose a risk on the public sewerage network. Shared buildings. The stations are usually accompanied by a kiosk, normally green or grey in colour, which contain the electrical equipment. 3. Most shared drainage or sewer pipes will be the responsibility of the water company. © 2001 - 2021 Thames Water Utilities Limited. We don't hold any records about private pumping stations. lateral drains are the responsibility of Southern Water Property boundary 5. Registered Office: The thought of paying thousands to replace a damaged drain is making him fear an official inspection, I imagine. Lateral Drains are the responsibility of Thames Water. If you think the blockage is in a section of pipework that's our responsibility, please report it to us and we'll send someone to look at it as soon as we can. Where you saw it (including a postcode, road name or any local landmarks or features). If your neighbours do have a problem, it may be on a shared section of pipe. When toilets, washing machines, dishwashers and other goods are incorrectly plumbed into a surface water drain, they're 'misconnected'. Wrap sanitary items, nappies, wipes and condoms in toilet paper and put them in the bin. There is no other flooding in the local area. b) House Owners whose foul drainage and surface water drainage run through a Private Sewer are each responsible for a share of the cost of upkeep of a Private Foul Sewer and or Private Surface Water Sewer. If you know of a station that meets the criteria that we may not be aware of, please email us. It's easy to avoid blockages in your home. This means we're now in charge of servicing, maintenance and running costs for these stations. us give much thought to who owns the drains and sewers which serve our property This is due to the way the sewers and drains are connected. Most sewers are publicly owned and are maintained by your … We're here to help you understand which pipes have transferred, and which pipes are still your responsibility. If the blockage is in your home, it’s your responsibility to unblock it. Who is responsible for shared drainage? Individual householders / Landowner. The law changed in 2016 making us responsible for all eligible sewage pumping stations in our area. Be connected to the main sewerage network (either foul or surface water). This will help avoid unnecessary callouts, which we may charge you for. There’s no other flooding in the local area. More than one property is experiencing problems. Thames Water is the statutory undertaker for drainage in Runnymede, while they are a private company they are also responsible for dealing with flooding from the public foul and surface water sewer network. Your property doesn’t share a drain with any other property. The list below can then watch one of our dedicated live Chat agents will be sewers... Under your property that is shared drains responsibility thames water shared with a neighbour save you unnecessary callouts the sewer that are shared. Your section of pipe which carries wastewater away from your property sewerage companies, local authorities the. 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