Private sewers and drains changes

Government approved legislation which from the 1st October 2011 transferred ownership of all privately owned shared drains to the water authorities (Anglian Water Services Ltd and Severn Trent Water Ltd depending on where you live) and in doing so, these have now become 'public sewers'.

The Private Sewers and Lateral Drains legislation does not amend the drainage legislation within the Building Regulations and as yet Building Control Bodies have received no guidance from the Government on how this will impact on the requirements of the Building Regulations.  It is however assumed that there will be joint responsibility between Building Control Bodies and the Water Company to approve new drainage systems.

Water companies should already have contacted all bill payers in their areas to explain the proposals. For further information on the transfer of your drains to the water authority and any impact this may have on proposals to extend your property, please contact either:

Anglian Water Services Limited

Telephone      08457 145 145

Anglian Water webpage on the transfer of private drains and sewers

Severn Trent Water Limited

Telephone      08456 016 616

Severn Trent Water webpage on the transfer of private drains and sewers

Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Telephone      08459 335 577

DEFRA's webage on sewers

If you are intending to carry out any of the following work on a property you are advised to seek advice from the relevant Water Company:

1. Build an extension over or within 3m of a public sewer
2. Construct a new building over or within 3m of a public sewer
3. Make a new drainage connection to a public sewer