Thames Water takeover of private drains and sewers

smileylondongal

Hi all,

an exciting topic, lol!

We live in a leasehold flat and as most people, have a water drain at the bottom of our garden which I assume covers ourselves and our neighbours.

We've just received notice from Thames Water saying that they're legally taking over these drains and sewers and that we shouldn't worry or do anything.

I have a few questions though!
1) Do we need to inform our water provider of this notice? I assume TW are the infrastructure but our provider does the rest.

2) Do we need to inform the managing agents?

3) What are the benefits/issues to doing this and what will this mean for us?

I always am a little sceptical when someone tells me not to worry, lol, so thought I'd ask!

Thanks so much!

ankspon

Thames is your provider,we have the same from Yorkshire water

victor2

Severn Trent have sent out the same. Seems to mean they have more responsibility for the pipework that goes through your land and you'll pay higher water bills for that privilege.

smileylondongal

I'm a bit confuddled - our water provider is Sutton and East Surrey, ie that's who we get our bills from, and I assumed Thames Water just provided the infrastructure which is why they want greater control over drains and sewers. Is this right?

Do I need to do anything or be concerned? (apart from scary water bills, of course)

Cardew

The heading of this thread - "Thames Water takeover of private drains and sewers" - is a little misleading.

The DRAINS will still be the responsibility of home owners where they run under your garden, until they meet the sewer.

The big change will be where sewers run under private land and more than one property drains into that sewer. Before that was the responsibility of all the property owners - and a never ending source of disputes; now(01/10/2011) that is the water company's problem.

This is a good explanation:

http://www.southernwater.co.uk/DomesticCustomers/whoOwnsTheSewers/

smileylondongal

Thank you Cardew, you're right that is a much better explanation as I hadn't appreciated that those on my actual property were still essentially mine (or my managing agents, too).

Thanks everyone for your replies!

macman

They aren't, unless you property is post-1937 and does not have a shared drain. For pre-1937 shared drains, the water authority is already responsible.
Every household in the country has received a similar leaflet to this.
You may get your water from one supplier, but a different supplier is responsible for drainage/waste water disposal.

Cardew

macman wrote: »

They aren't, unless you property is post-1937 and does not have a shared drain. For pre-1937 shared drains, the water authority is already responsible.

However even for pre-1937 properties the house owner is responsible for the drain on his property until it meets the shared drain.


Significant changes to the responsibility of private owners and South West Water expected to be introduced inOctober 2011.


It is currently expected that from3rd October2011, (date to be confirmed) all private sewers and lateral drains that connect to the publicfoul sewer systemwill transfer into the ownership of the local water and sewerage company- which in Plymouth’s case is South West Water.
This would remove the burden of maintenance and repair from householders and allow for a more integrated sewerage network. The cost of these additional responsibilities for South West Water would be funded by an increase in the Sewerage Charge.
The new arrangements are shown by reference to the following diagram. In future the houseowner would only be responsible for blockages and repairs on the blue (thin) line - that is, to a private drain within the boundary of the particular property which that pipe serves. A blockage on sewers and laterals outside of the property boundary (i.e. anywhere on a thickredline on the diagram below) would be the responsibility of South West Water Water.The age of the property (before or after 1936) would be irrelevant under the new arrangements.

jillie1974

all the water companies are sending them out. we got one from united utilities over the weekend

ankspon

You do not have to do anything,just keep the letter incase you have a blockage

Mrs_Arcanum

Particularly during the 60's & 70's estates were built with fibre drains which were not adopted by the water/sewage company of the day and remained the responsibility of the householders.