| Q: What is the difference between a drain and a private sewer and who is responsible for them ?
i) Private Drains
A private drain transports wasterwater away from a single property. There are two kinds of waste water, foul sewage and storm water run off. A private drain is the responsibility of the property owner.
ii) Private Sewers
Drains combining to serve more than one property are termed private sewers and remain private up to the point of connection with the public sewer.
The overall ownership of the private sewer is with all property owners, whose wastewater flows into it, they are jointly responsible for its repair and maintenance. Any problems with the drain such as blockages are the responsibility of all private owners discharging into the drainage system upstream of the blockage.
Q: What are the Public Sewers and who is responsible for them?
The large diameter pipes that run beneath public roads are the most common types of public sewers. Those sewers built on properties prior to October 1937 and at the point at which they become common (serving more than one property) are normally considered to be public sewers. Public sewers are owned and maintained by the local water authority. |
