Waste pipe leak

[sync32]

Hi,

I've got an end terraced property with a soil pipe running down the gable end and directly into the public footpath. I've discovered a leak in the cellar that seems to occur when the shower is used or the toilet is flushed. It's only a small amount of water that's making it through a crack in the stone cellar wall, and then it seeps away into the ground between flags.

I'm pretty sure the soil pipe must have a leak somewhere under the pavement where it turns to meet the public sewer under the road. My question is, who's responsibility is this section (eg £££!) and who do I need to contact about getting it fixed? It's under the public footpath so I doubt I'd be entitled to dig it up, but would this be something a standard plumber could do or do I need some sort of specialist? Just to be clear, the pipe runs down the outside of the house and directly into the public footpath (not on my property), but the effects are noticed in my cellar a few feet from where the pipe enters the tarmac.

Fortunately there isn't a great deal of water entering the cellar and what there is looks clear so it must be well filtered somewhere on route!

My water supplier is Yorkshire Water, I'm going to call them in the morning but I thought I'd ask here for advice first.

Thanks in advance!
Thomas

 

[denso13]

See what Yorkshire Water say but a plumber can advise and carry out the works if required.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

If the drain only serves your property then it's normally your responsibility, although being under a footpath may change matters. I suspect it may be your responsibility to pay for repairs, however you will need to get the necessary permissions to excavate in the footpath, and the Highways Dept at the Council may insist you use one of their approved contractors to do the work.

It may be easier to just let Highways deal with the work, the National Roads and Streetworks Act (NRSWA) will probably apply and it's better than you getting sued after some muppet has fallen into your excavation, or the Council are billing you for their reinstatement of the footpath as the original reinstatement wasn't to their liking.....

 

[sync32]

Thanks all,

The drain does just serve my property so it looks like it's my problem after all! I spoke to Yorkshire Water and they put me on to United Utilities, they're sending someone round to see what they can do.

Thanks again,

Thomas

 

[sync32]

Just a short update:

United Utilities are responsible for the waste water in my area. They visited this morning and sent a camera down the waste pipe. They found that a connection between two sections of pipe had drifted apart about a foot under ground.

As it's outside the boundary of my property it's their responsibility and they're sending someone later today to fettle it.