The
following information is to provide you with an outline of who is
responsible for drains and sewers and how problems can be
remedied.
Your property probably
drains to the main public sewer if you live in a town or a village.
If you live in a more rural area, where there is no public sewer,
your property probably drains to a septic tank or a cesspit.
If your property drains to
the public sewer it will either have a sole connection, or a shared
connection with other neighbouring properties.
If your property
drains alone, or with buildings in the same curtilage, it is called
a drain. A drain is a pipe that serves one building or
buildings that are in the same curtilage.
If the sewer of your
property was in use before 1937 you should contact Anglian Water as
it may be part of the public sewer.
The responsibility for
repairing and unblocking drains and private sewers rests with
whoever drains to where the problem occurs. For private sewers
this can mean that a number of buildings and people are affected.
There is a shared responsibility for all those who are
affected to remedy a problem if it occurs.
If you have a problem with
your drain, private sewer, septic tank, or cesspit you
should contact an appropriate contractor. The Yellow
Pages (or
yell.com) list
many suitable companies under 'sewage' or other related
words.
The Environmental
Protection Team does not offer a service to remove obstructions or
repair drains and private sewers but we can take enforcement action
under legislation requiring remedial works to be carried out.
The responsibility for
repairing and unblocking the main public sewer rests with
Anglian
Water. If you are experiencing problems with the main public
sewer you should contact them on 08457 145 145.
Contact Us
For more information please contact the Environmental Protection
Team on:
Tel: 01638 719733 Fax: 01638 719357
Email:
enviroprotection@forest-heath.gov.uk
Post: Environmental Services, District Offices, College Heath Road,
Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7EY
FAQ's
Q: What should I do if
there is sewage flooding from the manhole by my
property?
A: As a first course of
action you could contact Anglian Water to find out if there is a
problem with the main public sewer. They shall be able to inform
you if the public sewer is affected and carry out remedial
works.
If the problem is not with
the public sewer then it will be occurring in your drain or private
sewer. You could contact a drainage cleaning company to carry out
works to resolve the problem.
If your property is linked
to a private sewer there may be a number of other properties
affected by the problem. There is an equal and shared
responsibility for all those who drain to the point of the
obstruction. You could work with the other people affected to
employ the services of a qualified and experienced contractor to
remove the obstruction. You could employ the company to carry out a
camera survey (CCTV) of the pipework to find out if there is
disrepair or a defect causing the problem.
Q: Will my Home Insurance cover a problem with my blocked
drain?
A: You should consider
contacting your Home Insurance Company because problems with your
private sewer or drain may be covered.
Q: What should I do if I can’t get the other people
affected to agree to remove the obstruction?
A: By contacting your Home
Insurance Company and getting them to arrange to carry out the
remedial works this problem should be overcome, as they will
contact the other parties involved to recover costs. However, if
you approach the Council, we can investigate your complaint and
determine the other properties that are affected. We would then
inform the other people about the problem and their shared
responsibility to remedy the problem. If the problem is not
resolved through this informal approach the Council would serve
notice on all those affected and carry out the necessary works in
default and recover costs.
Useful Links
-
Building Act 1984 - This legislation
allows notice to be served on owners and occupiers of premises
requiring the repair of drainage.
-
-
Public Health Act 1961 - This
legislation allows a notice to be served on owners and occupiers
requiring the unblocking of drains and private sewers within 48
hours.
-
Public Health Act 1936 - This
legislation allows notice to be served on a person who causing
an overflowing and leaking cesspool.
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