Who is Responsible For Drain Maintenance?

Drain maintenance is something that most people would prefer not to think about. However, if you don’t get it done regularly, then chances are you will soon have a clogged drain pipe on your hands. Your drainage system will quickly become blocked up with all sorts of dirt and debris. This can be tough to shift, and the longer you leave things, the higher the risk of a serious problem developing. A clogged drain pipe could eventually even lead to irreparable damage, and you’ll need to get large chunks of your drain system removed and replaced. These repairs can be an extremely costly process, so they should only be a last resort. Instead, it’s much more cost effective to have a drain maintenance service regularly performed by a professional company like us.

Drain Maintenance Can Be Tricky Business

There’s one problem, though- just which drains are you responsible for? After all, the waste from your property will eventually flow into pipes that are maintained by your Local Authority. If you’re not careful, you could end up paying for drain maintenance and repairs to clogged drain pipes that aren’t your responsibility to fix. For that reason, it’s a smart idea to learn more about the different types of drains out there, and who is in charge of what. Luckily, this isn’t too difficult to get your head around- and to help you out, we’ve put together the following article. In essence, there are three types of drains: private drains, lateral drains, and sewers. Read on, and we’ll clear up exactly what’s what, and most importantly, whether or not you’re responsible for drain maintenance. Don’t ever pay for a clogged drain pipe that’s not your responsibility again!

What Are the Main Types of Drains?

• Private Drains
• Lateral Drains
• Sewers

Private Drains

The first type of drain on our list is pretty easy to define. It stands to reason that private drains are located on private land- meaning drain maintenance is up to the landowner. Not only that but if an issue with your private drain is causing problems with lateral drains and sewers, then the Local Authority may demand that you take action immediately to clean it out. Most clogged drain pipes fall into this category, as debris gets stuck in them more easily because they are generally narrower.

If you’re unsure about where your private drains end and lateral drains begin, then our CCTV survey is just the thing for you. As well as identifying any issues with your pipes and therefore making drain maintenance a lot easier, these surveys also allow us to map out your entire drainage system in detail. By comparing this with your property boundaries, our technicians will be able to tell you exactly what clogged drain pipes and other problems are your responsibility, and which should be left to the Local Authority.

Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle private drain maintenance alone. At Clark Drainage, we’ll be happy to keep your drains clean and blockage-free with our special Drainage Maintenance Service. It’s the best way to prevent any problems in your drainage system, as it prevents the most common problem we see in drainage systems: clogged drain pipes. Using high-powered jets of water, our technicians clear the entire system of dirt and debris which might be lodged in the pipes. Clogged drain pipes will become a thing of the past! It also gives us the opportunity to spot any small problems before they develop into bigger ones. We can then quickly fix these for you and save a lot of money in the long run- making our drain maintenance the ideal choice.

Lateral Drains

As the name suggests, this type of drain is very similar to the one we just discussed- they haven’t become sewers just yet. They are attached to private drains, carry the same waste, and are usually made of the same materials. The critical difference, though, is that they are located beyond the boundaries of your property. They carry sewage laterally along a street and into the main sewers, and as such, it’s up to the Local Authority to keep them clean and well-maintained. There is typically a coupling between a private and lateral drain, and this marks the point where any issues are out of your hands. From here on out, a clogged drain pipe is no longer your problem.

But how can you tell whether a drainage problem is located on your property or not, without digging the pipes up to take a look? One way of finding this out is to ask your neighbours whether they have been experiencing similar drainage issues to you. If so, then there’s a good chance that the issue lies in the lateral drain. You should therefore get in touch with the Local Authority to let them know there’s a problem. Alternatively, our CCTV surveys allow our technicians to identify the source of the issue quickly, and find exactly where it is located. If it’s not your problem, then great- but if it is, we can come up with a cost-effective plan of action to get your clogged drain pipes back to normal.

Sewers

The final link in the chain, sewers are where all the waste from private and lateral drains end up. They typically lead to water treatment plants, where any large objects are removed, and the water is cleaned so it can be reused. It’s essential that sewers are kept clear of any blockages because these can quickly lead to quite a severe health risk for the people who live nearby. Dirty water may start to feed back into their pipes, putting residents at risk of all manner of water-borne diseases. That makes blocked sewers a much more pressing issue than a clogged drain pipe, since it’s an issue that can affect a lot of people.

As with lateral drains, though, it is the Local Authority’s responsibility to maintain sewers and deal with any problems that might arise. It’s very rare for sewer problems to cause any issues with individual drains, but when this does happen, it’s important that the issue is tackled quickly. While you should report any problems to the Authority as soon as you notice them, you don’t need to worry about fixing any faults in the sewers yourself. When it comes to sewers, drain maintenance is out of your hands- so just make sure the right people know about the problem.

Let Clark Drainage Help with All Your Drain Maintenance Needs

If you think there might be an issue with your drains, then you don’t need to guess whether it is your responsibility to fix it. Instead, get in touch with Clark Drainage today, and we will be happy to help. By using high-tech equipment, our drain technicians can quickly tell you just what’s causing the problem, and where it is located. If it’s in the lateral drains or sewers, then great- but if it turns out that the issue is down to a clogged drain pipe on your property, then we will be happy to fix things for you at a very reasonable cost. When in doubt, bring in the experts- at Clark Drainage, we’re only ever a phone call away!