Public sewer

wbafc

We have already begun building an extension and are roughly half way through, we have only just realised due to lack of communication with builder and planning that we didn’t apply to the water company for approval (if any is needed) can’t believe we have been so dumb!
We have spoken to them and they say there is a sewer pipe approximately where the extension is, although none was found when the foundations were excavated and from there records it should be exactly where the trench was dug and it’s not inside the line of extension either.
We have had a camera down the present sewer under the extension and it comes to a dead on one end and what looks like a siphon just past the manhole cover in our garden on the other side,so we are not sure if it is a public sewer or private ( hopefully it’s our own private sewer) which is at the head of the run to our neighbour.
The camera team is coming again In 2 days to inspect the manhole 3 doors away to see if they can shed any extra light on the situation.
Does anyone have any experience of our circumstances and any advice, please don’t suggest demolition.
Could the sewer be re-routed if the worst situation arises and it is a public sewer and the water company decline our application?

Slithery

wbafc wrote: »

Could the sewer be re-routed if the worst situation arises and it is a public sewer and the water company decline our application?

Possibly, but expect it to cost way more than the extension.

Davesnave

I built over a public sewer in the 1980s, but I knew it was there.


As the pipe was 2metres down, I'd not have seen it at all without doing my homework, as the standard depth for footings was, and still is, around a metre. The existence of the pipe meant my foundations had to be substantial and finish below it. I also had to employ a structural engineer who specified two underground reinforced concrete bridges, one 4.5m long, to carry the foundations over the pipe.

Obviously, this is not the sort of job one can do retrospectively, so you just have to hope this pipe is yours only.

foxy-stoat

If you continue then expect to keep your house until the end - as you will struggle to sell it in the future.

Doozergirl

How large is the pipe? If it's a normal 4 inch pipe, then the water company usually give their agreement as long as you follow certain procedures to protect the pipe (if indeed it is public at all).

Their records are often wrong, so really you need to find out if the pipe is shared and where exactly it is in relation to your footings before anyone can offer any truly useful advice.

That said, any comments about sewer works costing more than an extension and not being able to sell your house are scaremongering and can be ignored. Some of us have actually been involved in drainage works and building near to or over sewers.

Robinette

foxy-stoat wrote: »

If you continue then expect to keep your house until the end - as you will struggle to sell it in the future.

My ex has just had this issue with a house he is buying. It is not a major problem, as indemnity insurance is available at a cost of around £300.

wbafc

Thanks for your advice.
It’s a 150mm sewer, which from what I have read gives me hope

wbafc

I honestly love the house and plan to stay anyway, so if I was able to do that without building control flagging the lack of approval from the water company and then hitting me with enforcement of demolition I would just carry on with the extension.
Not sure how they lease on these issues though that’s the problem

Davesnave

You do need to establish where it is. That was easy for me as there was a manhole in the road and another at the far end of the garden, so fair to assume a straight run, which it was.

As Doozer says, paper records can be inaccurate. Different pipe, but similar rules meant it looked as if our modern barn had been built over the village water main. It wasn't till I used divining rods that I could match it with where the road had been dug up and relax a bit. You might get a pleasant surprise; water main on my plan is about 5m out.

wbafc

Thanks for your input, I have emailed them regarding our situation this morning, hopefully as you say we can reroute if needed, when we eventually find the pipe in our boundaries.
Better to try to resolve the issue now than have problems later, fingers crossed anyway.