Drains and sewers
Your drain or sewer - public or private
Knowing who is responsible for clearing a blocked drain or sewer is one of the hardest parts of drainage work. It is important to understand the different types of pipework, because the responsibilities are different with each type of pipe.
'Drain' carries waste and or surface water directly from one house into a public or private sewer.
'Sewer' carries waste water and or surface water from two or more houses.
'Private sewer' carries waste water and or surface water from two or more houses which are built after 1 October 1937. A private sewer has not been adopted by South West Water, (SWW) and it is the responsibility of the people who use the sewer to clear blockages or repair damage. The fact that a sewer is located under a public road does not mean that it is a public sewer.
'Public sewer' carries waste water from two or more properties built before 1 October 1937 (with some exceptions), or has been adopted by SWW. They are usually under the highway but some Public sewers can be found in the grounds of private houses.
Drain
If you own a house you are responsible for clearing and repairing the drains, gutters and rain water pipes.
If you are a tenant the landlord is usually responsible, but depending on your tenancy agreement, the landlord may pass on the costs to you.
Private sewer
The owners of all the houses using the private sewer are jointly responsible to clear and repair it.
When there is a blockage or break, the owners of the houses using the pipes up to this point are responsible to clear and repair it. Downstream of the problems, owners of houses are not responsible because their waste does not flow into the pipe at the point of the problem.
Your household drain may flow straight into a public sewer. If a blockage occurs anywhere in this private drain, you have sole responsibility for cleaning any blockages or carrying out any repairs. Most properties have some length of private drain.
Drains from two properties may join together and form a private sewer, and then run some distance before connecting with the public sewer. If a blockage or defect occurs at point X in the private sewer system the owners of the two properties would be responsible for rectifying the problem.
Note that the boundary of the property does not indicate the end of your responsibility.
Diagram 3 below shows how all the drains from a block of houses may link up before running into a public sewer. In some cases, the drains from an entire estate may join a private sewer system before linking up with the public system, and this could be some considerable distance.
At the moment the law states that the owners or occupiers of premises above the point of the blockage or defect (i.e. whichever properties effluent flows through that point) are responsible. Therefore a blockage at point Y would only involve properties 4, 5 and 6. A blockage at point Z would involve all 6 properties.
Public Sewer
The sewerage undertaker (SWW) is responsible to clear and repair all public sewers.
Surface water drainage
Public highway: The road gullies are the responsibility of the highway authority (Devon County Council) as are the drains connecting gullies to a public sewer.
Public surface water sewers are the responsibility of either SWW, or where it is a designated highway drain, Devon County Council.
Private roads, garage compounds, parking areas are the responsibility of the householders adjoining the private road or drained area. The householder is responsible for the pipe up to and including the connection to the public surface water sewer (if applicable).
If owners of houses fail to meet their responsibilities, the Environmental Health service will take formal action to resolve the issue.
What do I do if my drain is blocked
It is your responsibility to arrange for the blockage to be cleared either yourself or by contacting a drainage engineer in the Yellow Pages
under 'Drain and pipe clearing'.
What do I do if my sewer is blocked
Pre 1937 dwelling
If your house was built before October 1937 and is connected with another property contact SWW on 0800 169 1144 (remember to record their reference number).
Post 1937 dwelling
If your house was built after that date contact SWW to ensure that it is not their sewer. If it is not then you will have to contact a drainage engineer in the Yellow Pages. It will be up to you to liaise with your neighbours to split the costs. If no action is taken, report it to the Environmental Health service, who will take formal action involving all parties.
What do I do if a public sewer is blocked
Contact South West Water on 0800 169 11 44 (remember to record their reference number in case you need to contact them again about the problem).
Preventing blockages
The drainage and sewerage system was not designed to handle personal items such as sanitary towels, disposable nappies or incontinence pads. It has been estimated that two thirds of blockages are caused by people flushing disposable items.
Nor can it cope with lots of food waste such as rice or fat, which tends to solidify in the pipes.
Disposing of personal items:
Sanitary towels, tampons, condoms, bandages: Wrap well and dispose of along with other domestic waste.
Disposable nappies: Flush any solids (but not the nappy) down the toilet. Wrap well and dispose of with your usual domestic waste. Reusable nappies and nappy laundering services are available from various suppliers, who advertise in the Yellow Pages. (Look under ‘Baby goods & services‘)
Razor blades: Pop used blades into a rigid container such as a tin can, that you are also throwing into the dustbin. Blades should never be flushed down the toilet.
Syringes and needles: Contact North Devon Council for details of needle disposal services.
Medicines: Any unwanted or unused medicines should be returned to your local pharmacy.
Incontinence pads: Contact North Devon Council for further advice.
Your drain or sewer - public or private
Knowing who is responsible for clearing a blocked drain or sewer is one of the hardest parts of drainage work. It is important to understand the different types of pipework, because the responsibilities are different with each type of pipe.
'Drain' carries waste and or surface water directly from one house into a public or private sewer.
'Sewer' carries waste water and or surface water from two or more houses.
'Private sewer' carries waste water and or surface water from two or more houses which are built after 1 October 1937. A private sewer has not been adopted by South West Water, (SWW) and it is the responsibility of the people who use the sewer to clear blockages or repair damage. The fact that a sewer is located under a public road does not mean that it is a public sewer.
'Public sewer' carries waste water from two or more properties built before 1 October 1937 (with some exceptions), or has been adopted by SWW. They are usually under the highway but some Public sewers can be found in the grounds of private houses.
Drain
If you own a house you are responsible for clearing and repairing the drains, gutters and rain water pipes.
If you are a tenant the landlord is usually responsible, but depending on your tenancy agreement, the landlord may pass on the costs to you.
Private sewer
The owners of all the houses using the private sewer are jointly responsible to clear and repair it.
When there is a blockage or break, the owners of the houses using the pipes up to this point are responsible to clear and repair it. Downstream of the problems, owners of houses are not responsible because their waste does not flow into the pipe at the point of the problem.
Your household drain may flow straight into a public sewer. If a blockage occurs anywhere in this private drain, you have sole responsibility for cleaning any blockages or carrying out any repairs. Most properties have some length of private drain.
Drains from two properties may join together and form a private sewer, and then run some distance before connecting with the public sewer. If a blockage or defect occurs at point X in the private sewer system the owners of the two properties would be responsible for rectifying the problem.
Note that the boundary of the property does not indicate the end of your responsibility.
Diagram 3 below shows how all the drains from a block of houses may link up before running into a public sewer. In some cases, the drains from an entire estate may join a private sewer system before linking up with the public system, and this could be some considerable distance.
At the moment the law states that the owners or occupiers of premises above the point of the blockage or defect (i.e. whichever properties effluent flows through that point) are responsible. Therefore a blockage at point Y would only involve properties 4, 5 and 6. A blockage at point Z would involve all 6 properties.
Public Sewer
The sewerage undertaker (SWW) is responsible to clear and repair all public sewers.
Surface water drainage
Public highway: The road gullies are the responsibility of the highway authority (Devon County Council) as are the drains connecting gullies to a public sewer.
Public surface water sewers are the responsibility of either SWW, or where it is a designated highway drain, Devon County Council.
Private roads, garage compounds, parking areas are the responsibility of the householders adjoining the private road or drained area. The householder is responsible for the pipe up to and including the connection to the public surface water sewer (if applicable).
If owners of houses fail to meet their responsibilities, the Environmental Health service will take formal action to resolve the issue.
What do I do if my drain is blocked
It is your responsibility to arrange for the blockage to be cleared either yourself or by contacting a drainage engineer in the Yellow Pages
under 'Drain and pipe clearing'.What do I do if my sewer is blocked
Pre 1937 dwelling
If your house was built before October 1937 and is connected with another property contact SWW on 0800 169 1144 (remember to record their reference number).
Post 1937 dwelling
If your house was built after that date contact SWW to ensure that it is not their sewer. If it is not then you will have to contact a drainage engineer in the Yellow Pages
. It will be up to you to liaise with your neighbours to split the costs. If no action is taken, report it to the Environmental Health service, who will take formal action involving all parties.What do I do if a public sewer is blocked
Contact South West Water on 0800 169 11 44 (remember to record their reference number in case you need to contact them again about the problem).
Preventing blockages
The drainage and sewerage system was not designed to handle personal items such as sanitary towels, disposable nappies or incontinence pads. It has been estimated that two thirds of blockages are caused by people flushing disposable items.
Nor can it cope with lots of food waste such as rice or fat, which tends to solidify in the pipes.
Disposing of personal items:
Sanitary towels, tampons, condoms, bandages: Wrap well and dispose of along with other domestic waste.
Disposable nappies: Flush any solids (but not the nappy) down the toilet. Wrap well and dispose of with your usual domestic waste. Reusable nappies and nappy laundering services are available from various suppliers, who advertise in the Yellow Pages
. (Look under ‘Baby goods & services‘)Razor blades: Pop used blades into a rigid container such as a tin can, that you are also throwing into the dustbin. Blades should never be flushed down the toilet.
Syringes and needles: Contact North Devon Council for details of needle disposal services.
Medicines: Any unwanted or unused medicines should be returned to your local pharmacy.
Incontinence pads: Contact North Devon Council for further advice.
To contact the Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 01271 388870
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk
Textphone (callers must have Typetalk compatible equipment; this number does not support voice communication or SMS): 01271 388786 (during our normal working hours)
Web form: send us a web enquiry
Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
For further information see the Environmental Health service contact page
