A blocked drain raises a quick question. Who has to fix it, and who pays? The answer depends on where the fault sits. This guide explains the usual rules, so you know who to call.
Rules differ in small ways between cases, so treat this as a general guide. However, if your situation is unusual, check with your water company.
The Three Parts of a Drain Network
Most homes connect to the public sewer through a chain of pipes. For example, first comes the private drain, which carries water from your home to your property boundary. Next is the lateral drain, which is the part that lies outside the boundary. Finally, the public sewer carries the flow to the treatment works.
Each part can have a different owner. As a result, a blockage can be your job to clear, or a water company's. Finding the boundary is the first step.
The Private Drain Inside Your Boundary
The drain inside your boundary serves your property. Therefore, the owner or occupier is responsible for it. United Utilities describes this as the pipes, gutters, gullies and drains in and around your home, up to your boundary, unless the drain is shared.
If you rent, check your tenancy. Many landlords handle drain faults, but the agreement decides, since terms differ. Our drain unblocking service can clear a blockage on your side of the boundary.
The Lateral Drain and the 2011 Change
A lateral drain is the part of a drain outside the property boundary. Before October 2011, owners were responsible for these pipes. Many owners did not know it. The cost of a repair could also fall on a few households.
Government rules changed this. The transfer of private sewers and lateral drains to water and sewerage companies took effect on 1 October 2011. Since then, the water company looks after the lateral drain. The Welsh Government's guidance on the same change lists the exceptions, which include private drains within the property boundary.
Public Sewers and Shared Pipes
Public sewers belong to the water company. Similarly, shared sewers are the company's. These are the pipes where the drains of several properties join before they reach the public sewer. United Utilities says it maintains these, and asks customers to contact it if they suspect a blockage.
Because of this, a shared pipe is not usually yours to pay for. However, it can be hard to tell which pipe is shared. A camera survey can show where pipes join, which helps settle the question.
Road Gullies
Gullies at the edge of the road drain rainwater from the highway. Thus, they are not part of your home drain. United Utilities tells customers to contact the council about blockages or smells from road gullies.
In our area, that means Cheshire West and Chester Council for most roads. So report a blocked road gully to the council, not to a drainage firm. We cover how heavy rain affects gullies in our post on blocked drains after heavy rain in Chester.
Which Water Company Serves You
Not every Chester address uses the same company. The council's water cycle study names United Utilities and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water as partners for the area. Parts of the area near the Welsh border may therefore have a different sewerage company from those further into Cheshire.
Although we have not mapped every street, boundaries can be hard to guess. Your water bill or the company's own website will show who serves you. If you are not sure, ask before you book repairs on a pipe that may not be yours. For a quick check, call the company named on your bill.
How to Work Out Where the Fault Is
You can narrow it down in a few steps, because they help you decide who to call.
- Find out whether the fault is inside or outside your boundary.
- Check whether the pipe serves only your home or several homes.
- Look at your water company's online sewer map if it has one.
- Ask a drainage engineer to survey the pipe if you still cannot tell.
A survey gives you proof, since it shows the pipe itself. Our CCTV drain surveys show the pipe, where it runs and where it joins the main sewer. Home buyers use the same tool, as our guide to CCTV surveys for home buyers explains.
What to Do When Water Backs Up
Act quickly, but do not guess. Stop using water in the house if a drain is backing up. Then look at the nearest manhole or gully, because standing water there can point to the cause.
If the blockage is on your side, we can help. If it looks like the public sewer, call your water company. Our guide on emergency drain problems lists the steps to take while you wait. You can also read about the signs of a blocked drain.
Talk to Us First
If you are unsure, we will tell you what we find and whose pipe it is. However, we would rather say so than clear a drain that is not yours to pay for. Our blocked drains service covers the pipes inside your boundary.
Send us the details through our contact page. Include any photos and a note of where the water backs up.
