Whose responsibility is this?

[Downnotdown]

I've been having problems with a blockage in my drainage system over the last couple of weeks which has caused my bathroom to flood. I've had a plumber and a drainage company out to clear the blockages and the latter thinks that there is some problem with the soil pipes underneath the ground outside at the back of the house. He said he is going to ask the local water company to come out with a camera to see what the problem is but doesn't know how long this will take.

This afternoon the small drain has 'exploded' and shot out a stream of water/waste but I was under the impression that this small drain is only for the sink waste (as opposed to toilet waste) but to me it looks more like sewage waste.

My house is a Victorian terrace and as far as I'm aware the drainage system links all 6 houses in my terrace. I've lived here almost 3 years with no problems and I'm not aware of anyone else in the terrace currently having any problems. The bathroom is upstairs and is the only bathroom in the house.

Although the drainage system runs underneath the ground in my back garden, as it does in all the houses, I'm trying to work out who would be responsible/liable to get the problem fixed. I'm worried about the cost of this if it comes down to me and would appreciate any advice.

From my understanding it depends where you are on the drainage line. If you are the first house, so your waste runs into next doors pipe, but there's no one on the other side whose waste runs through the pipe in your garden, then I think it's 'private lateral flow' so you are responsible. If neighbours waste runs through pipe your garden to reach sewer I think water company responsible. I'm not an expert though!

Shared private sewers, those that connect two or more properties to the main sewer, are now the local water companies responsibility.

Laterals (pipe from a single house to the shared sewer) remain the home owners responsibility.

www.ofwat.gov.uk/nonhouseholds/supply-and-standards/responsibility-supply-pipes/

Good luck.

If an drain is blocked, and pressure builds up, it can begin to back sewage up lots of other drains, and they don't have to be loo drains to get backed up with sewage. You need to get onto your water supplier directly PDQ, so they can send someone out to find where the blockage is. If sewage is blocking up that's a real health hazard.

Thanks @anotherheadache, @Geekygeek, @BlueMongoose.

My house is 2nd one in so not at the end of the line. I'm very much hoping that it's the responsibility of the water company but either way I shall be contacting them, as you say, it's a health hazard. Thanks for your advice.