Drainage - help and advice

There is an important difference between drains and sewers.

A drain is a pipe which carries waste water and sewage from one property
A sewer is a pipe which carries sewage and waste water from more than one property
When two drains meet, the pipe becomes a sewer (even if the drains are from the same property)

Who is responsible for faults?

Faulty drains - you are responsible for drains running from your property
Faulty sewers - from the 1st October 2011 the 'sewerage undertaker' (Southern Water Services) takes over responsibility for all sewers. To report a faulty/blocked sewer call 0845 278 0845.

New Government legislation means that from 1st October 2011 Southern Water Services takes over responsibility for some sewer pipes that previously belonged to homeowners.

Why is the transfer taking place?

Before 1st October 2011 homeowners were responsible for the pipes that drain from thier property into public sewers - this included pipes that go beyond the property boundary - and are often unaware that they are responsible for these pipes until problems occur and they faced a repair bill. The Government decided that some specific pipes, called private sewers and lateral drains, would be better looked after if they formed part of the public sewer network which is responsiblity of sewerage companies.

Will this move benefit homeowners?

Yes. As well as casuing unexpected bills for homeowners, problems with private sewers also cause disputes between neighbours over responsibility. Homeowners will have the peace of mind that future problems with these pipes will be dealt with by thier sewerage company.

Will I need to pay any charges?

If the private or public sewer is blocked then Southern Water Services will arrange for it to be cleared. This will come at no extra cost as it is incorporated within all customers sewerage undertaker bills.

If your drain is blocked or has a fault then it is your responsibility to get it cleared or fixed. We advise a private contractor should be arranged by you to solve the issue. This will come at a cost.

Why does the council get involved?

If there is a fault in a drain and the fault is not repaired, we can insist that you clear the blockage or make the repair to prevent the faulty causing health problems. We may serve a legal notice and carry out work if you do not carry out work set out in the notice. We can then charge you for the cost of the work and any administration charges.

Who to contact

This web page has explained some of the issues which often arise around drains and sewers. If you are not sure who is responsible for drains and sewers in your area, you can get more information from the contacts list below.

Advice on drains and sewers

For faulty public sewers, call Southern Water Services on 0845 2780845, or you can write to them at Southern House, Capstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME5 7QA, or visit the Southern Water website. You can contact your solicitor for legal advice on drains and

sewers.