Access Point
A place where engineers can physically enter a drainage system for inspection or maintenance (e.g. a manhole, inspection points, gullies).
Air Lock
Trapped air inside a pipe, which can cause gurgling, odours, and slow drainage.
Backflow
Wastewater flowing in the wrong/opposite direction, often occurs during severe weather or sewer overloads.
Bacteria
Microbes that feed on organic matter.
Biofilm
Dark, slippery buildup inside drains that eats organic matter and releases bad smells. They are commonly found inside pipes and shower drains.
Blocked Drain
Restrictions that prevent the normal flow of water inside pipework.
Burst Pipe
Pipe failure that can cause severe water damage.
CCTV Drain Survey
The technical process of using a small camera to inspect the pipe system.
Collapsed Drain
A pipe section that has failed and can no longer carry water efficiently. This failure may be due to damage, age, corrosion, or ground movement.
Contamination Incident
Pollution caused by wastewater escaping or flowing into an incorrect drainage route.
Debris
Leaves, soil, silt, food, and litter which can wash into drains and cause blockages.
Descaling
The process of removing mineral build-up from pipes. This widens the narrowed pipe, improving water flow.
Drain Cleaning
The professional clearing of a drain to improve function.
Drain Excavation
Physically accessing underground pipes through digging a hole or a trench. This allows for repair and replacement.
Drain Jetting
High pressure water jetting that clears and cleans drains, helping remove grease, scale, and debris.
Drain Mapping
The process of creating a detailed plan of drain runs, connections, and flow directions using CCTV and GPS. It is crucial for construction, maintenance, and compliance responsibilities.
Emergency Drain Unblocking
Urgent unblocking of a drain to restore safety and sanitisation.
Flow Load
The volume of water a system is capable of handling.
FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease)
One of the major causes of blockages in kitchens.
Foul Drain
Pipes that carry dirty wastewater from bathrooms and utility rooms. This water is sent for cleaning treatments, as opposed to rainwater drainage systems, which goes directly into rivers.
Freeze-Thaw Damage
Water expands when frozen, and repeated freezing can worsen cracks and degrade structures.
Gully
An external drainage system that collects surface water and channels it into the main system.
Grease Trap
A smart physical unit that separates fats, oils, and solids before wastewater enters the main pipe network. Highly recommended for commercial kitchens to prevent drainage issues.
Hard Water
Water which is high in minerals. It can be responsible for the gradual narrowing of pipes.
Infiltration
Groundwater seeping into pipes through defective joints. This can increase the flow load and damage the system further.
Joint (Pipe Joint)
Connection between different pipe sections.
Kitchen Waste Build-Up
Food particles and grease which cause drainage issues.
Lateral Drain
The section connecting a private drain to the public drain system.
Limescale
Mineral deposits that can coat the inside of pipes, gradually restricting flow.
Maintenance Programme
The scheduled cleaning and inspections of drainage systems to prevent emergency situations and callouts.
Odours
Foul smelling gas that can be a result of blocked or dried drains.
Overflow
When drains are overloaded and can no longer accept flow, causing water to spill out at gullies.
P-Trap (U-Bend Trap)
U-shaped pipes under sinks that stop foul smelling sewer gas from entering a property.
Permeable Paving
Surfaces that allow rainwater to soak through, to lower risk of flooding in wet weather.
Pipework
The vast network of pipes that supply water to and distribute it throughout a building.
Rodding
The use of rods to break up or extract blockages. It is commonly used alongside jetting.
Scale Build-Up
The gradual and progressive narrowing of pipes from mineral deposits.
Sewer
A larger, underground pipe network that usually carries wastewater from multiple properties and is publicly owned.
Silt
Fine sediments that settle in low-flow areas, leading to blockages.
Subsidence
Ground movement that can misalign drains and cause severe issues for drainage systems.
Surface Water Drain
External drainage systems that manage rainwater from roads, pavements, and driveways.
Waste Pipes (Internal)
Pipes within a property that serve sinks, baths, showers, and appliances.
Yard Gully
An external gully in gardens that can be prone to leaf build-up if not maintained.
