` What is a Private Sewer?

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What is a Private Sewer?

Posted on February 22, 2016

Sewers and sewage are, though unpleasant, a necessary part of any built up areas and infrastructure. They are something which much of the general public who are not ‘in the know’ may take for granted or know very little about, and this is certainly the case with private sewers; a type of sewer that is less common than the usual system.

Here, we explain a bit more about what private sewers are and how they function.

What is a private sewer?

Sewers, as many people know, are pipes carrying wastewater from a number of properties. Some groups of properties, however, are connected to private sewers, which are not owned and cared for by the local water and sewerage companies, but by the property owners themselves.

The rules about who is responsible for the private drains surrounding or attached to certain properties have altered since October 2011,  however; something we will discuss in more detail later on in the article.

What is a lateral drain?

Drains are pipes carrying wastewater away from single properties – all homeowners will be familiar with the sound their drains make when they run their tap or flush the toilet. Most properties are connected to their own private drains, and property owners are indeed responsible for maintaining and repairing them to ensure they are kept fully functional.

A lateral drain is part of a drain which lies outside of a property’s boundary. They can be located anywhere, sometimes even under somebody else’s land or even underneath a road.

Who is responsible for a private sewer?

Water and sewerage companies in England and Wales have been responsible for private sewers since October 2011, as well as lateral drains; both of which used to be the responsibility of the property owners. The initiative was set up to remove the burden on property owners of tending to and caring for these pipe systems, allowing them relief from the potentially costly and complicated issues that may arise with their running and upkeep.

Here at Wildon UK, we help our customers with their properties’ water systems every day to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently at all times. If you’re experiencing difficulties with your property’s water, drainage or wastewater system, get in touch with us today. Our highly trained engineers are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, thanks to our emergency call out service, meaning you never have to worry about an issue with your system getting in the way of your premises’ function. Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out more.

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