Community protection Drainage FAQs

What type of drain is it?

There's an important distinction between drains and sewers:

  • A 'drain' is a pipe which carries foul and/or surface water from one property
  • A 'sewer' is a pipe which carries foul and/or surface water from more than one property; thus when two drains join, the pipe becomes a sewer
  • A 'lateral drain' is that part of a drain which serves a single property but which lies outside that property’s curtilage, ie the land immediately surrounding it
  • A 'pumping station' means that part of a sewer or lateral drain which includes the rising main (the pressurised pipe that connects the pumping station with the rest of the sewer or lateral drain)

Who's responsible for the different types of drain?

Drains

Owners of a house are responsible for maintaining a private drain, clearing blockages and repairing any faults. However, they're only able to commission work within the private drain, not within a lateral drain without first contacting their water and sewerage companies for confirmation on how to proceed.

Sewers

Maintenance of most sewers and lateral drains which connect to the public sewer system is the responsibility of the water and sewerage companies. You should contact them if blockages or defects occur in this type of drain or sewer.

Sewers and drains that don't connect to a public sewer, because, for example, they drain into a septic tank, are the responsibility of the owner of the house. These are referred to as private sewers and drains.

How can I prevent drainage problems on my property?
  • Check there's no loose brickwork in manhole chambers - loose bricks may fall and block the system
  • Don't extend a house over the line of drainage pipes or manholes without taking specialist advice
  • Seek Building Control advice when changing underground drainage
  • Don't pour anything into the drains that will solidify and block them eg fat, plaster, or cement
  • Don't discharge toxic and flammable chemicals such as oil, petrol, paraffin, etc into the drains
  • Don't try to clear blockages with anything apart from proper drainage rods. Lengths of timber, garden canes etc aren't suitable and may cause further problems
  • Don't put items such as paper towels, disposable nappies, incontinence pads etc down the drains
  • Check where drains and sewers are before planting trees or large shrubs, as the roots can penetrate the pipes and cause a major obstruction
  • When plumbing in an automatic washing machine or other appliance make sure it discharges into the foul drains

How should flooding from sewage be cleaned up?
  • Remove excess liquid (pumping/sweeping, as appropriate)
  • Remove any sewage debris/faecal contamination
  • Leave the contaminated area to dry
  • Apply a mild disinfectant (powerful disinfectants, such as strong bleach, are not necessary and may be harmful to surfaces)

Disinfection should remove all bacteria within 24-48 hours.

I've been flooded - will the electrics be safe in the house?

If any electrical circuit or equipment has been immersed you'll need to ensure that the system is safe before using any appliances/equipment. It's best to use a qualified electrician to do this.

What do I need to do to prevent flooding contamination in my house/garden?

The following simple rules should be followed:

  • Don't wipe over the disinfected areas, as this will reduce the effectiveness of the disinfectant
  • Where possible, windows should be opened to remove disinfectant odours
  • Don't turn your heating up to dry the property during the first 48 hours, as higher room temperatures may prolong the life of the bacteria
  • Don't attempt to dig or rake the affected area. This will spread the contamination further into the soil or turf, where lack of sunlight and damp conditions will enhance the life of the bacteria
  • You shouldn't attempt to hose the garden down as this will saturate the ground and prolong the life of the bacteria

What to do after you've cleaned up

If you need to enter the affected rooms within 48 hours after the initial clean up adopt normal basic hygiene precautions, such as not touching your mouth, and washing your hands well afterwards. After 48 hours the bacteria in your home should have reverted to the normal background levels.

In gardens the best treatment is to allow nature to take its course. As most contaminants will be near the surface they'll have the maximum exposure to the sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is very effective in killing bacteria.

it's not necessary to use disinfectant on your garden, as this may kill plants and do more harm than good. However, if you feel this would give you extra reassurance a mild disinfectant can be applied.

Hard surfaces such as paths and drives can be cleaned and disinfected. We suggest that you keep off the area for up to three hours to give the disinfectant time to work.