It is important to know if your drain is shared in order that you are properly prepared should any drainage issues arise. There are ways to identify whether your drain is shared that will allow you to tailor any home maintenance accordingly.
Identifying a shared drain
A shared drain serves multiple properties before it connects to a main sewerage system. A major indicator of drain sharing is property layout in relation to other homes. Houses in a row or complex are far more likely to share drains. Where wastewater flows is another good indicator. A shared system will have a bigger pipe collecting wastewater from more than one property.
Properties with shared systems may also get water sounds in pipes from neighbouring properties and can also experience matching drainage issues, such as slow drainage or blockages.
If you’re in doubt about shared drainage, a detailed inspection can be carried out, such as a CCTV drain survey Nottingham, which can be performed by companies such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/nottingham.
Drain responsibility
You will typically be responsible for drain sections that fall within the boundary of your property. It becomes the water authority’s responsibility or is shared when it crosses into a public sewage system or shared land.
It is important that you are aware of any rights or legal obligations you may have relating to shared drains. These can vary according to where you live in the UK, and so it is vital to check the details, which are usually available on local authority websites.
