Public and private sewers
On 15 December 2008, Hilary Benn announced that responsibility for private sewers and lateral drains will pass to the 10 water and sewerage companies from 2011.
In Yorkshire, the change will see us take responsibility for 22,000 kilometres of private sewer pipes, on top of the 33,000 kilometres of public sewers we already look after.
We support the transfer, as we believe that it is good for our customers. The transfer will provide much greater clarity on ownership and responsibilities, and the cost of maintenance and repairs will be distributed for fairly across our customer base.
Which pipes are the private sewer pipes?
The difference between a public sewer and a private sewer is a legal difference rather than a practical difference, but there are some general rules that usually apply.
- The pipe that only serves one property is known as a drain, and is private
- Unless the property was built before 1937, the pipes close to properties will generally be private
- The sewers in the roads will generally be public sewers, provided that the water company was asked to look after them when they were built
Who's responsible for the sewers?
A private sewer is currently the joint responsibility of the owners/occupiers of the properties that drain into it. This responsibility continues up to the point where the private sewer (including the connection) joins a public sewer, where we become responsible for maintenance and repairs. This means that customers can sometimes be responsible for repairs outside their boundary.
How will responsibility change?
We'll be taking over the responsibility for privately-owned sewers and lateral drains (the bit of pipe that's outside the customer's boundary). There are currently often disputes with us or neighbouring properties when things go wrong as ownership is often not clearly defined.
It is our current understanding that sewers that carry surface water straight to a watercourse may transfer to local authorities, that pumping stations will transfer to us gradually, and that there are no plans to transfer sewers that connect to private treatment facilities.
Will the transfer create additional costs for consumers?
In overall terms, the transfer shouldn't cost consumers any more than they currently pay. Instead of costly maintenance and repairs falling to just a few unlucky consumers, the costs will be distributed more evenly across all sewerage bills.
How are we preparing for the transfer, and what needs to happen next?
We recognise the scale of the transfer and have set up a dedicated project team to ensure that we are ready to take on the new undertaking. We're making great progress, working closely with Water UK and with DEFRA, but we can't invest fully or make the changes that will be needed until we have certainty that the transfer will go ahead. Ultimately, we need confirmation of the date and the detailed scope of the transfer so that we can ensure that the transfer is a success.
