Replacement dwelling into existing (combined) sewer connection

[Woodview]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post. I’m here to look for anyone that can provide advice or first hand experience regarding this specific issue.

 

We purchased a house that was part of a farm in 2022. The plot contained a large and rather ugly home and several outbuilding. A short time later we applied for and eventually received permission for a new dwelling on the site, totalling no more than the existing buildings that were then to be demolished. 
 

As part of the plans a soakaway system was designed, however during the demolition and foundation dig phase it was evident that thick clay was present below the surface. Ground investigation dig and infiltration tests at 2.5m have since confirmed this and the success of a potential soakaway is in doubt.

 

The existing house had a connection to the public sewer that also served as a discharge for storm/rain/surface water. There is no storm drain that serves the locality and our current bill from Severn Trent shows that we are being billed for surface and rain water disposal into their system etc. 

 

Our project manager and civil engineer are very keen for us to have a soakaway with potential overflow that discharges excess rain water into our field. Although we are of the opinion that this could cause water logging of the field and is simply an admission that the proposed soakaway is doomed to fail. 
 

So, getting to the point. Given that we know the previous property discharged rain water into the main sewer (as per our current bill), and that we already have an existing connection into the public sewer on site and given the fact that the previous dwelling discharged both foul and surface water collected into this drain, are we within our rights to simply connect back up and do the same for the new dwelling? 
 

I have searched the Severn Trent website for guidance on this and all I can find relates to NEW CONNECTIONS TO A PUBLIC SEWER. I cannot find anything that relates to existing connections and replacement dwellings. 
 

Any advice or experience of the same would be greatly appreciated. 
 

many thanks,

 

M

[G and J]

Smaller property, but same issue.....bungalow was a combined system, replacement dwelling does not (Anglia Water) have automatic right to reconnect, a bit of a dance going on at the moment as to solution.

[Ferdinand]

8 minutes ago, G and J said:

Smaller property, but same issue.....bungalow was a combined system, replacement dwelling does not (Anglia Water) have automatic right to reconnect, a bit of a dance going on at the moment as to solution.

Are there Planning Questions.

I can see this issue being a Condition in some way, and being used as quiet leverage by a Council in some circumstances.

[G and J]

For us no planning condition, but AWA won't sign off a straight reconnection. Any proposal needs BC to approve and BC won't sign off unless AWA happy.

 

Size of (urban) plot restricts available space for soakaway /strorage tanks etc so likely to end up with some king of hybrid system, where some goes to drain.

[Alan Ambrose]

Part of a farm, but doesn’t have any ditches to drain to?

[Woodview]

1 hour ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Part of a farm, but doesn’t have any ditches to drain to?

Yes there are ditches, however the ditch that runs along the northern boundary (closest to the property) belongs to the neighbouring farmer and the ditch for our field is a fair distance (approx 40-50 metres) from the house. In either case both ditches then discharge into the sewer system anyway. 

[Redbeard]

1 hour ago, Woodview said:

the ditch for our field is a fair distance (approx 40-50 metres) from the house. In either case both ditches then discharge into the sewer system anyway. 

 

OK, it's a long way away  but depending on the distance between where you'd connect and the main sewer I wonder if your water authority would accept the ditch as, in affect, a linear 'leach-field' (attenuation 'device')? Suppose it depends a lot on whether the clay persists at the same level for the entire run of the ditch.