Connecting in to private sewer

[Saints1]

Hello, I wonder if anybody could help. 
We are at the start of our self build project, planning agreed just going through fine print of the pre-commencement conditions. (Also of note this plot was a garden, so there are no services to the plot) 

I’ve been looking at how we are to get foul water and rain water away from the address and it looks like the whole road are on a combined sewer. I understand that nowadays utility companies want you on separate systems albeit they will eventually connect in to the combine pipe individually. The issue I have is I know the waste water flows at the back of my address as I know the neighbours and they allowed me to open the last manhole on their property. Their pipe runs straight across my back garden and then presumably in the neighbour on the other side of me. I have contacted the utility company to ask for a waste water pipe line map however they don’t have it for my neighbours either side and it only picks up on their system two doors down. The lady on the phone stated that they won’t hold maps for private sewers. 
 

so here’s my question, if my neighbours waste water flows across my garden can I effectively “T” into it (with the appropriate inspection chambers) at two points, one for foul water and another for surface water (two separate systems) and do I have to notify the utility company of this if they hold no records of it? 
 

[Nickfromwales]

If it’s not part of the network, and you T in using a compliant and recognised method, then I doubt you need to say much more; assuming you have not been told by anyone not to do so. 
 

Was nothing agreed before you bought someone’s garden off them to build in?

[saveasteading]

These days we try not to load sewage with rainwater as treatment capacity is not coping. Hence these recent scandals of sewage into rivers.

If well planned they don't join up.

 

I'm surprised the planners have not made conditions.

But you do have to submit your proposal to the bco. They wilI prob send it to the drainage company. I suggest you do that pronto or at least discuss. 

Do you have space for soakaway or pond?

 

[Susie]

Do you know how old the pipe is that runs through your garden?

 

’In England and Wales, private sewers and lateral drains became public on October 1, 2011. This legal change, enacted by the Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011, automatically transferred the ownership of these privately-owned pipes to water and sewerage companies.’

 

if they are older than 2011 they are now considered to be public but the water board just don’t know they exist or the route they follow.  Importantly if older than 2011 and they get a blockage then the water board unblock them as they are no longer private.

 

if newer than 2011 they are private but will join the public sewers some where so you would need permission from the private owner most likely who ever is furthest up stream to join their sewer but also will possibly still need to notify water board as you are adding to the volume of water in their pipe unless it all goes to a private ditch or pond.

 

[Saints1]

4 hours ago, saveasteading said:

These days we try not to load sewage with rainwater as treatment capacity is not coping. Hence these recent scandals of sewage into rivers.

If well planned they don't join up.

 

I'm surprised the planners have not made conditions.

But you do have to submit your proposal to the bco. They wilI prob send it to the drainage company. I suggest you do that pronto or at least discuss. 

Do you have space for soakaway or pond?

 

On the plans there is a pre-commencement condition that states 

“Foul and surface water shall be drained on separate systems. Surface water shall be

drained in accordance with the hierarchy of drainage options in National PlanningPractice Guidance”

 

I have looked at SUD’s however having had to do a site/contamination/Soil investigation the ground is very heavy clay with rock head found as shallow at 3.8meters deep so in essence the surface water will struggle to soak away. 
 

My neighbours house I know was built in 2000 and there was an existing house there before so my guess they connected up to the old pipes from the previous house. 
 

from speaking to the structural engineer in cases where I can’t get around SUD’s I will still need to put them on two separate systems (foul & surface water) even though they will meet in the combine sewer. But this will apparently future proof it incase the utility companies decide to devise separate drainage in years to come. 

[Saints1]

4 hours ago, Susie said:

Do you know how old the pipe is that runs through your garden?

 

’In England and Wales, private sewers and lateral drains became public on October 1, 2011. This legal change, enacted by the Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011, automatically transferred the ownership of these privately-owned pipes to water and sewerage companies.’

 

if they are older than 2011 they are now considered to be public but the water board just don’t know they exist or the route they follow.  Importantly if older than 2011 and they get a blockage then the water board unblock them as they are no longer private.

 

if newer than 2011 they are private but will join the public sewers some where so you would need permission from the private owner most likely who ever is furthest up stream to join their sewer but also will possibly still need to notify water board as you are adding to the volume of water in their pipe unless it all goes to a private ditch or pond.

 

Yes the neighbours property was built in 2000 whereby they knocked down the previous house and rebuilt on that plot so I’m assuming the sewer lines belong to the utility company with what you are saying pre 2011 but they just don’t hold the mapping for it? 

[Saints1]

5 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

If it’s not part of the network, and you T in using a compliant and recognised method, then I doubt you need to say much more; assuming you have not been told by anyone not to do so. 
 

Was nothing agreed before you bought someone’s garden off them to build in?

No nothing agreed… in essence I don’t think the neighbours knew where there pipes ran and probably didn’t concern themselves too much as long as their sh*t didn’t flow back they wasn’t that bothered lol 

 

[Susie]

7 minutes ago, Saints1 said:

Yes the neighbours property was built in 2000 whereby they knocked down the previous house and rebuilt on that plot so I’m assuming the sewer lines belong to the utility company with what you are saying pre 2011 but they just don’t hold the mapping for it? 

Sounds like it’s Utility company now so that’s good. Could be something in the deeds of neighbours but doesn’t sound like it matters any way. 
 

good luck on SUDs.  You will probably have to dig a pit and prove you don’t drain away enough but your local BC may advise what others are doing locally. 
 

 

 

[Conor]

The sewer is public and you should be able to connect your foul sewage to it. It's nothing to do with your neighbour. It's not surprising the water company don't know anything about it, the pipe would never have been surveyed or drawings sent to the water company. You'll have to make an application and submit plans. There might be issues with that pipes capacity or the local network's capacity that will need to be checked by the water company. You WILL need to deal with surface water separately.

[crooksey]

What was the proposal for waste and rain water in the planning documents? Usually this has already been specified.

 

Probably easier and cheaper for a treatment plant and soakaway (if soil allows).