Just a heads up for those not already aware. From 1/10/11 the Water Authorities are adopting certain shared drains on private land.
Basically any shared section of drains will become public sewers, and ownership and responsibility for maintenance passes from the landowner to the Water Authority.
Currently, landowners are [normally] responsible for all drains passing under their land - i.e. for sorting out repairs and blockages - even when the drains are shared by other properties. So repair costs can be onerous on a particular landowner, or if the landowner does not maintain or fix drains, then other people upstream can be left literally in the sh1t.
From October, the Water Authority will assume responsibility for shared sections of drains, and will sort out any problems. Single runs say from your house out to the main drain run will still be the responsibility of the landowner
There will be a cost increase to our water bills. But the main issue will be if planning an extension, conservatory etc close to these adopted drains, as permission will now be required from the Water Authority - a fee payable plus cost of a drain survey.
Also, if you have existing buildings over existing drains that will be adopted in October - especially if the building is recent, then it may be an idea to record that the building was there before the drain was adopted
Basically any shared section of drains will become public sewers, and ownership and responsibility for maintenance passes from the landowner to the Water Authority.
Currently, landowners are [normally] responsible for all drains passing under their land - i.e. for sorting out repairs and blockages - even when the drains are shared by other properties. So repair costs can be onerous on a particular landowner, or if the landowner does not maintain or fix drains, then other people upstream can be left literally in the sh1t.
From October, the Water Authority will assume responsibility for shared sections of drains, and will sort out any problems. Single runs say from your house out to the main drain run will still be the responsibility of the landowner
There will be a cost increase to our water bills. But the main issue will be if planning an extension, conservatory etc close to these adopted drains, as permission will now be required from the Water Authority - a fee payable plus cost of a drain survey.
Also, if you have existing buildings over existing drains that will be adopted in October - especially if the building is recent, then it may be an idea to record that the building was there before the drain was adopted
