Environmental Protection - Sewers and Drains
Last updated: 30/11/2011
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Sewers and Drains
From the 1 October 2011 South West Water will take ownership of
private sewers where they either leave the property boundary
or join another property (which ever is first). This means
that you still have a liability for the private
sewer (this also includes manholes etc) that serves your
property whilst it is on your property, although once it leaves it
will be down to South West Water to maintain and deal
with any issues.
The diagram below explains this:
Previously some properties have been responsible
for private sewers a long distance off their property,
and in some instances on other people's property - although this is
designed to remove this responsibility.
In the instance of a blockage - if it is on your land and the
pipe only serves your property - you would be liable to get this
cleared, you will be able to find a number of companies that will
be able to clear this in the Yellow Pages, on the internet or other
such places.
If the problem is either off your property or the pipe serves
more than one property - call South West Water on 0800
1691144.
There is much more information regarding this on
the South
West Water website. South West Water also have advice and
information on what
to do if you have been flooded by sewage and what they are
doing to try to minimise the risk of this happening. Often
sewer blockages are caused by people putting items down the toilet
that are not suitable to be put into the sewer system
- many
items are not suitable to be flushed down a toilet.
Septic Tanks and Cesspits
Septic tanks reduce the bacterial and nutrient load (e.g.
phosphates and nitrates) of the effluent discharged into it and to
stop the effluent from polluting watercourses or drinking water
sources in the vicinity. They comprise of compartments for deposit
of waste and settlement/treatment where bacterial activity creates
a sludge that accumulates over time and requires regular removal.
Responsibility usually lies with the properties using the tank,
even if it is located on only one premises.
A cess pool or pit is essentially a leak-proof holding tank for
the waste; they are usually much larger than septic tanks. A cess
pool needs to be emptied once it is full; this will usually be more
frequently than for a septic tank because the liquid needs to be
removed as well as sludge because there is no percolation into the
soil. Responsibility for cess pools is the same as for septic
tanks.
Highway Drainage
The Highway department is responsible for ensuring that the
public highway is not obstructed by standing water. This may be
taken from the tarmacked surface by ditches, gullies or pipes and
may discharge into streams, sewers or onto adjoining land. Problems
with blocked ditches or highway gullies should be reported to the
Highway department by calling 0300 1234 222 or e-mail
roadstransportandparking@cornwall.gov.uk
Environmental Protection Role
The Council has no direct responsibility for foul water drains,
sewers, septic tanks, cess pits etc. Environmental Protections role
is to ensure that the person or persons responsible take
appropriate remedial action if a drainage problem (e.g. a sewer
blockage causing leakage) presents a risk to public health. However
the Council has no powers enabling it to require South West Water
to clear blockages or repair public sewers.
For more information on drains and drainage please
contact the Environmental Protection Team by e-mail envhealthandlicensing@cornwall.gov.uk
or by calling 0300 1234 212