How do we get connected to the mains sewers?

[hmcAsWas]

We moved into a newly built property two years ago. Its semi rural but hardly remote (there's a busy golf club next to us - I bet they are on mains drainage) - and yet we only have a cesspit type arrangement (waste goes down to a cesspit type thing with friendly bacteria in it, is made 'safe' and then goes through an outlet to be dispersed underground through a drainage field - I haven't explained that well!). During a routine inspection on Thursday we found that it wasn't draining - is blocked somehow - is virtually full to the brim and urgently needs emptying by a tanker, and then they are going to put a camera down to see what is causing the problem. A whole world of hassle, which I can imagine might happen again and again.

Sod the cost, I want to connect to the mains sewer - it can't be far away. I've looked at Southern Waters website and it all looks very complicated - have to put in an application, get a contractor to do it for us etc and it has to meet their standards. Kind of don't want to go there - might end up with a cowboy contractor.

I'd rather Southern Water do it and bill us - but I can't find that option....

Anyone had their property connected to mains sewer and how did you do it? Any advice gratefully received

Thinking allowed - I think golf course has their own STP and probably discharge to the same watercourse, but further upstream. Would the fact that they discharge to the same stream (which feeds into a river) albeit 1/4 mile upstream limit us from doing it?

aloud not allowed

Ok so your property is fairly new, it is a strong possibility it has been built in an unsuitable location. From experience it is most likely that the area they installed it in had the most favourable porosity test results (even if they were not actually suitable).

Exemption is pretty easy, although can take quite a while to go through, somewhere between 8 and 16 weeks is average. You may already have one (or you should do) for the septic tank. If you look on the EA’s public registers under your postcode you should be able to find it. It may still be under the housing developers name.

If you have already got one you can just apply for a variation, which will go through quicker.

The golf course shouldn’t cause a problem at all, however to protect yourself you need a regular maintenance regime which includes field and laboratory final effluent sampling from your outlet. I only suggest this because when large works go down, they can go down majorly and very very quickly. Whilst the EA will have an official sample point on site which only has the golf courses discharge, frequently members of public will report pollution events and you do not want the EA knocking at your door without proof you are compliant.

Thanks again SmokingGun - just had a look on EA public register and can find the golf course but not my property

Hmm so it sounds like planners have assumed exemption rather that formalising. I suggest you apply regardless of what you choose to do.

Yes I will make sure it is done properly and with full official sanction - I want a robust solution.

We are on clay and have a soakaway. It goes deep under the clay into chalk. It sounds like you are getting sorted.

No-one from NHBC visits a house by the way. Usually their certificate is a load of twaddle and don’t expect anything from building control either. They more or less do not exist any more.

However, why didn’t your solicitor pick up that the drainage was not certificated by the EA? I would look at their competence too.

Thanks Bubbles - we will have a chat to the solicitor