How can I tell if I'm on mains drainage?

donnalou

Hi There,

I hope someone can help me with this.

I recently moved into a house in a very rural village. The letting agents told me that there was no mains drainage which I assumed was true because of the location, the other day I received a Water Bill for Sewage costs when I quired it they told me that the previous tenant was paying it and the house next door was ( but it's empty at the moment) on checking my postcode there are only another 2 properties in it and they do not pay sewage costs. The other properties are either side of mine one is a newish property and one an older.

I've now spoke with my Landlord and he said that I do have to pay the sewage costs which doesn't really make sense as the houses either side don't.

I'd be grateful if someone could explain to me how this can be correct as I think that I may be missing something.

Thanks in advance

Donna

Cardew

Sometimes a mains sewer is installed nearby but residents don't choose to be connected.

The connection costs can be considerable for the owner. This from Anglian water's site:

Anglian Water realises that the costs of bringing the private sewers to the boundary of the


property can involve significant expense to customers and we do not want to burden


customers with further costs. Therefore if you sign up to the following connection offer and


connect within the first six months of the sewer being made available, you will only be


responsible for arranging and paying for the following:




• The cost of laying a pipe (house drain) from your property to the boundary of your land.






For this work within your land, you would normally employ a local builder. This can range


between hundreds to thousands of pounds depending on your specific connection


circumstances, ground conditions etc. We recommend you obtain three quotes from


reputable drainage contractors.




• The cost of separating your surface and roof water from your foul water (if necessary).


• Application to the Building Control section of your local Council for Building Control






Inspection, for which they normally charge a fee.
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donnalou

Thanks for that, The only thing that I am sure of is that there is a pipe leading from my house to a stream at the bottom of my garden. I think I need to talk to my neighbours and see if they can shed any light on it,

Cardew

donnalou wrote: »

Thanks for that, The only thing that I am sure of is that there is a pipe leading from my house to a stream at the bottom of my garden. I think I need to talk to my neighbours and see if they can shed any light on it,

That is probably for Surface Water Drainage(SWD) it won't be for sewerage!!


If you look at your water company's website you will see two rates for sewerage. If any water from gutters/land etc enters the sewer system you pay the higher rate; if it goes to a soakaway or a stream you pay the lower charge.


SWD charge is called by several names. It can be an additional charge on each cubic meter(if metered) or an additional charge on each £1 of Rateable value(RV) or a flat charge.

spiro

donnalou wrote: »

Thanks for that, The only thing that I am sure of is that there is a pipe leading from my house to a stream at the bottom of my garden. I think I need to talk to my neighbours and see if they can shed any light on it,

Your sewage (!!!!!) won't be going down a pipe into a stream, it will either be going into the main sewer or a septic tank which you have to pay to get emptied. As the other post says you are probably mixing up sewage and surface water which are totally different.

donnalou

I'm not getting sewerage and surface water mixed up I know that the pipe can not be for sewerage!
There is no septic tank so I just assumed that there was a soak away somewhere or a Cess Pit as the letting agent told me.

It just seems odd to me that my neighbours don't pay sewerage charges. It is a very rural village so I find it hard to believe that a main sewer is nearby but I could be wrong.

suki1964

If you have a septic tank or cess pit on your property, there would be a man hole cover for it some yards away from your house but within your boundary as both have to be emptied. So go lift your man hole covers and look. It would be one that's easily lifted as it would needed emptying at some point

We get ours de sludged once a year

Cardew

donnalou wrote: »

I'm not getting sewerage and surface water mixed up I know that the pipe can not be for sewerage!
There is no septic tank so I just assumed that there was a soak away somewhere or a Cess Pit as the letting agent told me.

It just seems odd to me that my neighbours don't pay sewerage charges. It is a very rural village so I find it hard to believe that a main sewer is nearby but I could be wrong.

A soakaway is for SWD only and is the normal method of disposing of rainwater, but it can also go to a stream.


Your apparent situation regarding sewerage disposal occurred for a relative living in a remote location. A mains sewer was laid and he paid a considerable sum to be connected. His neighbour decided to remain with his septic tank as he didn't consider it cost effective.