Burst Sewage Pipe

kahunababy

So, a couple of weeks ago we noticed a lot of stagnant water sat at the back of our garden. Now the garden had always had bad drainage so we just thought it was due to some rain. This water was smelling quite bad but I thought it was due to it being stagnant. Anyway I had arranged for a couple of landscape gardeners to come out and give us some quotes to install drainage. The first one took one look and explained it was sewage coming up and he couldn’t touch the garden till it was sorted. He also explained that it had seeped underneath our decking and patio which may also need replacing. I called Environmental Health who sent someone out straight away. They confirmed it was sewage 🤮 and it seems to be coming from the main line lateral pipe that runs along our fence line. The water board are coming out tomorrow and hopefully it will be fixed soon. Environmental health will then send a clean up team out. For now the garden is Out Of Bounds. Now I’m wondering if I could claim off the council for the decking and patio repairs once it’s sorted or if it’s down to me to claim off my own insurance? Anyone with any experience of a similar situation? Thanks in advance. 

Davesnave

If it's a shared drain, the water authority are responsible for its upkeep, not the council. The council are only acting in a public health capacity by offering to make the area safe, not accepting liability for something that isn't theirs.

As for the water authority, they appear to be acting in a timely manner. You would have to prove negligence on their part to receive compensation and there doesn't appear to be any.

From what you've told us, the delay here was the result of you not recognising the problem for what it was. You carry the responsibility for that.

kahunababy

Thanks Davesnave, yeah its a shared drain, I meant the water board. To be honest they have been great, and fast in their response so hopefully it is rectified quickly. I will contact my insurance today and hopefully they will be able to help as the decking and patio both need replacing. Thanks for the reply. 

Apodemus

If the standing water has only been there for a short time, I would be surprised if there was any good reason to replace the decking (and certainly not the patio).  Your water company should do a clean-up of the area, which should be sufficient.  You might feel a bit 🤮 about it for a couple of weeks, but there is no reason for there to be any lasting damage and nature will complete the clean-up pretty quickly.

joe90mitch

Had a shared drain overflow into my garden and the neighbours. Took two weeks for the water company to sort it, so it sounds like you're lucky (though your leak does sound bigger).

Don't overthink replacing the patio yet - the water company in our case really thoroughly "vacuumed" all the liquid and mess up and then really went to down on the area with some disinfectant water. Maybe see how you feel about it all after that, but we've felt fine using our patio since.