Collapsed/broken public sewer pipe

clive2702

I think I have a broken/collapsed public sewer at the back of the house under the patio. This is the sewer pipe that runs from house to house in our cul de sac. I believe there is a problem because (a) paving slabs around an inspection cover have sunk and are uneven and (b) there is a rodent hole going down towards the pipe. There was a smaller hole , which was filled in but now a larger hole has appeared. When water is poured down this hole, it does not fill up.

So, Wessex Water have agreed to send someone to have a look. If the pipe is broken and needs replacing etc, I can envisage parts of the patio having to be dug up.

Question is, who would pay for relaying the patio? Me or Wessex Water?

EachPenny

It depends.

The first thing will be establishing that the sewer in question is the responsibility of Wessex Water. If it is, then they are likely to carry out a CCTV inspection to identify if there is a problem, and if there is, whether the problem is with their pipes.

Sunken paving slabs and holes in the ground don't necessarily mean a damaged sewer, it could just be defective workmanship when the sewer, or the patio, was laid.

If digging work is required then the utility company would normally be responsible for reinstating the area dug up. But that doesn't necessarily include relaying the whole patio, as some people hope and expect. Sometimes a cup of tea and a bit of negotiation can help though

Warwick_Hunt

If you're first on the run it's your problem. Anything else it's the water boards.

clive2702

As we are in the middle of three properties, Wessex W can't use the "end of the line" get out excuse.
Let's see what transpires

EachPenny

Warwick_Hunt wrote: »

If you're first on the run it's your problem. Anything else it's the water boards.

Not necessarily true, at least not from the information the OP has provided. Not every sewer serving more than one property is a public sewer despite the change in the law.

clive2702 wrote: »

As we are in the middle of three properties, Wessex W can't use the "end of the line" get out excuse.

Keep in mind that unless you know as fact that the 'public sewer' is a public sewer then it might not be. And even if the manhole has a public sewer in it, a broken pipe causing the problems you describe might be your private one, not the public one(s).