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Public health - drainage

Drains are pipes, which carry waste and surface water from one or more houses. When one drain meets another, it becomes a sewer. These are not the gullies or grids that can be found in the road to take water off the highway.

How do I know if it is my drain that is blocked?

If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or gullies outside will overflow. There will also probably be a smell. Private drains/sewers are the responsibility of the owner-occupier and any other properties connected to it. The Council can arrange for clearance of a blocked drain.

Is it a drain, a public sewer or a private sewer?

To determine whether the problem is on a drain that is a public or private sewer and who is responsible, the guidelines below will assist.

If the property is built before 1st October 1937, and so long as there are two or more properties connected to the length of drain/sewer affected, it is the responsibility of Severn Trent Water to clear.

For properties built after 1st October 1937, all drains and sewers are the responsibility of the owners/occupiers and any other properties connected to it, unless it is a main public sewer, which has been adopted by Severn Trent Water.

Who is responsible?

It is the responsibility of the owner-occupier to maintain and clear a private drain or private sewer. If the property is rented then it is the owner's responsibility. If you live in a row of houses then the problem could be a shared one between all properties connected to the private sewer.

Enforcing Statutory Drainage Legislation

Bridgnorth District Council has a statutory duty in the interests of public health to ensure that blocked/foul smelling private drains are cleared and, where appropriate, to recharge the householders for this service. Any recharge is apportioned equally to all households feeding into the sewer up to the point that it is blocked and follows the serving of a notice.

You can report a drainage problem online.

If you require further information or advice please contact us at:

Environmental Health
Bridgnorth District Council
Westgate
Bridgnorth
Shropshire
WV16 5AA
Telephone: (01746) 713150 email: health@bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk