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[Nickbat]

I live in an end-terrace house with a shared waste run serving 4 properties. The runs collect on my property and then run out under my front garden to the main sewer.

I’ve had a blocked inspection pit in my garden for about a week now, with raw sewage water running across the pavement.

I have insurance for blocked drains and the company has sent engineers out, but they say the blockage is beyond my property under the pavement or road and, as I have shared system, they won’t unblock it and that it will need a CCTV inspection which they will not provide.

 The main sewer runs along the centre of the road. I was advised to get in touch with Thames Water. They said, and here’s the astounding bit, that the pipe between my property and the main sewer is my responsibility (well, technically a shared responsibility between the four houses). This means that, in the worst-case scenario of a collapsed sewer we would have to pay thousands (literally!) for the road to be dug up and the pipe repaired.

So, let me get this right: if traffic travelling along the road (I’m on a school run) causes vibrations which, in turn, causes the feeder pipe to the sewer to collapse, it’s my problem? The answer appears to be “yes”.  

This is deeply depressing…and totally unjust. And I was only talking to SWMBO about a new Omega last night…well, that’s down the drain now.  

[MikeDundee]

I live in an end-terrace house with a shared waste run serving 4 properties. The runs collect on my property and then run out under my front garden to the main sewer.

I’ve had a blocked inspection pit in my garden for about a week now, with raw sewage water running across the pavement.

I have insurance for blocked drains and the company has sent engineers out, but they say the blockage is beyond my property under the pavement or road and, as I have shared system, they won’t unblock it and that it will need a CCTV inspection which they will not provide.

 The main sewer runs along the centre of the road. I was advised to get in touch with Thames Water. They said, and here’s the astounding bit, that the pipe between my property and the main sewer is my responsibility (well, technically a shared responsibility between the four houses). This means that, in the worst-case scenario of a collapsed sewer we would have to pay thousands (literally!) for the road to be dug up and the pipe repaired.

So, let me get this right: if traffic travelling along the road (I’m on a school run) causes vibrations which, in turn, causes the feeder pipe to the sewer to collapse, it’s my problem? The answer appears to be “yes”.  

This is deeply depressing…and totally unjust. And I was only talking to SWMBO about a new Omega last night…well, that’s down the drain now.  

Does'nt sound quite right, i think you will find that the sewage pipe from or in your garden is your responsibility, but under the pavement / road should be Thames Water surely.

[Auto Addict]

 

[STMO123]

No. You are responsible for the drain until it hits the main sewer. Just as you are responsible for everything your side of an electric/gas meter.

[Big Rod]

It's a shame, in situations like this no-one wants to accept responsibility!

There's a bridge near here that was suspected to be weakened, and the council and the railway authorities in charge of the railway the bridge traverses deny accountability, so the solution is to put traffic lights on it and only allow traffic one way!!  

Nuggets!!!

[Nickbat]

No. You are responsible for the drain until it hits the main sewer. Just as you are responsible for everything your side of an electric/gas meter.

Exactly, or so it would seem. It's my pipe, but I can't even repair it myself as I am not licensed to dig up the public highway. It just does'nt make sense.  

[MikeDundee]

No folks I have to argue on this point, given that Nickbats sewage is also communal as it serves 3/4 other properties then Nickbat needs to point this out to Thames water as this forms part of an official Act, which Thames water or any water authority will argue unless you poitn it out to them. Likewise, regarding CCTV surveys Thames water would potentialy not allow you to survey there sections of pipework. essentially Nickbat should CCTV survey up to his garden boundary to confirm whether the blockage/breakage is on his side of the boundary if it is then its his responsibility, if it is on the pavement or footpath/road then it is Thames water, as you do not own the road or footpath/pavement and to dig it up you would need to get licences. thames Water do not need licences for this type of repair work as they are statutory services, and it would also be classed as a emergency repair, due to the environmental issue.

Get back to them Nickbat.  

[Kevin Wood]

... and if there are 4 houses using that section of pipe you are, at worst, jointly responsible for it even if it's under your garden so get your neighbours to pester them too and make sure they're aware that the bill will be divvied into 4 if Thames don't sort it.

Were they not able to unblock it then? Or didn't they even try?

Kevin

[Nickbat]

No folks I have to argue on this point, given that Nickbats sewage is also communal as it serves 3/4 other properties then Nickbat needs to point this out to Thames water as this forms part of an official Act, which Thames water or any water authority will argue unless you poitn it out to them. Likewise, regarding CCTV surveys Thames water would potentialy not allow you to survey there sections of pipework. essentially Nickbat should CCTV survey up to his garden boundary to confirm whether the blockage/breakage is on his side of the boundary if it is then its his responsibility, if it is on the pavement or footpath/road then it is Thames water, as you do not own the road or footpath/pavement and to dig it up you would need to get licences. thames Water do not need licences for this type of repair work as they are statutory services, and it would also be classed as a emergency repair, due to the environmental issue.

Get back to them Nickbat.  

Mike, they insist that for houses built post-1937, the pipe to the main sewer is my responsibility - even if it is under the road. Furthermore, insurance comapnies won't cover it because they are not getting premiums from all the sharing properties. Think   I'm stuffed.

[Nickbat]

... and if there are 4 houses using that section of pipe you are, at worst, jointly responsible for it even if it's under your garden so get your neighbours to pester them too and make sure they're aware that the bill will be divvied into 4 if Thames don't sort it.

Were they not able to unblock it then? Or didn't they even try?

Kevin

They cleared it once and it blocked again the next day. The then tried rodding it and found that they could get the rods wells beyond my property, but could not shift the blockage. So, officially, there is a blockage under the footpath/road, but no-one will CCTV it because they all deny responsibility.  

[MikeDundee]

No folks I have to argue on this point, given that Nickbats sewage is also communal as it serves 3/4 other properties then Nickbat needs to point this out to Thames water as this forms part of an official Act, which Thames water or any water authority will argue unless you poitn it out to them. Likewise, regarding CCTV surveys Thames water would potentialy not allow you to survey there sections of pipework. essentially Nickbat should CCTV survey up to his garden boundary to confirm whether the blockage/breakage is on his side of the boundary if it is then its his responsibility, if it is on the pavement or footpath/road then it is Thames water, as you do not own the road or footpath/pavement and to dig it up you would need to get licences. thames Water do not need licences for this type of repair work as they are statutory services, and it would also be classed as a emergency repair, due to the environmental issue.

Get back to them Nickbat.  

Mike, they insist that for houses built post-1937, the pipe to the main sewer is my responsibility - even if it is under the road. Furthermore, insurance comapnies won't cover it because they are not getting premiums from all the sharing properties. Think   I'm stuffed.

Thats the date I was'nt sure of, re; my reference to the Act which only applies to pre-1937 houses obviously, I take it all the houses are privately owned, none council?

[Jimbob]

Can you access your house deeds to see the take on it from there?

[TheBoy]

I had a friend in a similar situation.  Alas, it does seem to are responsible (you being all the people on the shared section)

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its a grey area......

The system you describe is classed as a private sewer (until it reaches the main sewer) as opposed to a lateral drain (i.e. a drain used by one house).

It is indeed your (and your neighbours) responsability until it reaches the main sewer unless the intermedate connection has been adaopted by the local water authority (which is rare).

Your insurance policy should cover your liability for the repair though (not a good policy if it doesn't).

The Government were looking to change this and get the water authorities to adopt all sewers etc.....but given that its the public sector, its bound to take a while (its been 6 years so far!) plus you can all expect anything upto a £10 a year rise on your water charges when it does happen.

[Kevin Wood]

They cleared it once and it blocked again the next day. The then tried rodding it and found that they could get the rods wells beyond my property, but could not shift the blockage. So, officially, there is a blockage under the footpath/road, but no-one will CCTV it because they all deny responsibility.

Sounds similar to an issue I had. Blockage between last cover on my property and main sewer, shared with my neighbour. Got a bloke out to unblock it, which he did with a set of rods after farting about for an hour failing to get his jetter working.

He went away recommending a CCTV survey, etc. It blocked 2 weeks later, at which point I decided not to mess around with the muppets again, bought a set of rods and cleared it in 10 mins flat. He had left all the rubble he cleared first time under the manhole cover and a chunk of it had fallen back in  

The point is, we just lifted the main sewer in the street and rodded back up to the blockage and it gave way pretty easily. I get the feeling some of these guys like to make work for themselves, so be a little wary of them.

Kevin