Building over a foul sewer

Furts

victor2 wrote: »

Ditto with Severn Trent.
As the man who did our camera surveys said - there are no plans telling Severn Trent where all the pipes they have been given responsibility for go, they are getting homeowners who are building to provide plans and surveys at their own cost.
Should a sewer that has been built over subsequently fail, they have clever ways of relining them without digging. In the case of a total failure that couldn't be repaired, they would construct a new one around the building.

This is casting Severn Trent in a poor light. Of course they do not have plans of the drains - they were never involved in the construction of them nor was there any requirement for records to be lodged with them. None of the water companies wanted the law changed in 2011, but it has occurred.

To say that a new sewer would be constructed around the building is misleading. No water authority would have this as a pre-set procedure. This is because drainage is an engineering matter - it flows under gravity to pre-determined falls, to and to pre-agreed designs. A re-routing may not be possible just as it may not be possible in OP'S post here.

People often have the idea that drains can be diverted. In reality it is more complex than that and diversion may not be possible.

buglawton

By coincidence I've got an architect coming today to look at a very similar extension scenario. So I'll be referring to this thread.

chappers

Furts wrote: »

To say that a new sewer would be constructed around the building is misleading. No water authority would have this as a pre-set procedure. This is because drainage is an engineering matter - it flows under gravity to pre-determined falls, to and to pre-agreed designs. A re-routing may not be possible just as it may not be possible in OP'S post here.

I would say in a high number of situations diverting an already a built over sewer isn't an option, due to internal drainage set ups in the property. If they diverted the sewer that runs along the back of our houses and under every extension in our road, I don't think anyone could be connected back in without some seriously major work being carried out.

JAck

I am in a similar situation, where we are in the process of buying on the assumption that we will be able to significantly extend the property. Most stressful thing I have done in my life! ha ha! We would look to extend the property to the back and also link the main building to the garage - with the map received from my Solicitors search indicating public sewers in both directions where we looking to extend. I know applying for build over permission is around £350 but worst case scenario they don't approve unless we move the drains... In my (not so expert) opinion it looks as though it could possibly divert the drain to diagonally connect at the back corner of the garden.

Per Thames Water (my supplier)
"Diverting the sewer. If your plans cannot be modified, we will usually require the sewer to be diverted. In most cases we will have to carry out the work but at your expense."

Anyone have any idea how much this diversion could potentially cost or where I can find out? I am having a drain survey done tomorrow to check the accuracy of the above map and also the general state of the drains - not taking any chances!