Efficient Management of Sewer Blockades

Blocked Drains:

Drains Blockade is the most common plumbing problem met especially by the urban population. If the blockages are left unattended or untreated, water may leak from the drains and cause discomfort and damage to your house or business. In the worst case, severe blockages may also happen to result in pipe bursts, costing even more money for fixing those problems. Addressing such kind of problems is vital for home improvement, which is part of maintenance.

Sewers Blockade:

Sewers and repairs to the lateral drains which are connected to the public drainage network and it comes under the sole responsibility of the house/business or property owner. Anyhow, the public systems have been developed for home improvement by the local water companies. Upon any blockage or any other problems, the local water company can be contacted to resolve it as soon as possible. The concerned water companies have a right to interfere and solve the problem related to the sewer by entering your property, which is a fact and needs to be observed.

Basic Observations to Be Done:

Other than the sewers attached to a property, the presence of unadopted and Private sewers was also found. If there is any private sewer or lateral drain with a lot of properties near your location or if you have a private or unadopted sewer along your property, the owner is responsible get the sewer repaired. If the sewer is a common point joining all the other properties, everyone is equally responsible for the costs involved. The local authority of the environmental health department has the rights to order the owners to get the blocked sewer service. If the owner fails carryout home improvement activity to the sewer as per the time provided by the local authority, they might be charged for the repair made by local authority.

Alternatively, you can also ask the local authority of sewerage company to adopt or take over the private sewer or lateral drain. Anyhow, this decision can be taken if the company is carrying out decent home improvement activities and keeping the surroundings in sound health conditions.  It is up to the sewerage company’s approval to adopt or not to adopt a new private or lateral drain system based on the benefit the sewerage system may cause to them. Whoever is responsible for the home improvement activities of the lateral drain or sewer need to agree to the transfer of ownership to a sewerage company. One can appeal to OFWAT if the sewerage company did not agree to adopt a sewer or lateral drain.

• Public sewers need to be provided for effective draining activity by the water and sewerage companies. Anyhow, the owner has all the right to connect the drain to the public sewer from the property, which will be charged as per it accordingly.

• The local authority can insist the owner connect to the public sewer if the drain runs into a septic tank or an adequate cesspool. This is applicable only if the public sewer is more than a hundred feet away from the property of the owner. Anyhow, if the local authority agrees to pay for the costs of repairs, construction and home improvement.

If the owner is not sure if the sewer is private or is connected to a public or private sewer, it is recommended to check with the sewer map. You can also check with sewerage company to make the sewers available for the property, or the local authority can be consulted for the same.