Sewage and drainage

Private drains serve a single home or business within the boundary of the property. Other types of pipes that owners still have responsibility for are:

• water supply pipes within a property boundary
• existing surface water sewers that drain directly to watercourses (not the public sewer)
• sewage treatment works and pipes connected to them, in private ownership
• septic tanks and cesspits, including all associated pipes even if serving more than one property, in private ownership
• any pipes where an appeal against transfer has been upheld by Ofwat (the economic regulator of the water sector in England and Wales)

Responsibility for drainage problems

If an issue is in the section of pipe running from your house and across your garden or property, then it’s likely you’ll need to resolve the problem. Call a plumber or check your home insurance policy, which often covers such drains and lateral sewers. Contact us using the details at the bottom of this page if you’re not sure and need advice.

If you live in a rented property you'll need to discuss cleaning drains with your landlord, housing association or property manager. Usually the property owner is responsible for repairing structural repairs and the occupier is responsible for cleaning blockages.

The water undertaker is responsible for dealing with private sewers and parts of the drainage system which run under roads and pavements or the gardens of neighbours. In our area there are two water undertakers: United Utilities who cover most of the area and Northumbrian Water who cover the Alston and Nenthead area.

See sewers and drains explained on United Utilities website for further  guidance on who is responsible if a problem occurs.

Find tips on how to avoid blocking your drains on the United Utilities website

Our powers to deal with drainage problems

An environmental protection officer can access a property at any reasonable time to investigate if drainage problems could cause a public health risk. We can bring other people with us to offer specialist advice. We can serve a notice demanding the owner or occupier perform appropriate remedial works. This gives 48 hours to clear the blockage. If it's not done, we'll arrange for private contractors to clear the blockage and we'll recover the costs of the work and administration. Currently, the administration charge is £50 per property affected.

If a repair to a drain or private sewer is not completed, we can serve a notice demanding owner occupiers perform appropriate remedial works. This gives approximately eight weeks to carry out the repairs. If it's not done, we'll arrange for private contractors to carry out repairs and we'll recover the costs of the work and administration.

You have a right to appeal, which is explained on the notice.

Contact Environmental Protection