The Transfer of Private Drains & Sewers 8 th March 2012 James Warren Technical Director, UKDP

Agenda Introduction – Who are UKDP? An overview of the transfer Which assets haven’t transferred? What are the challenges facing Environmental Health Practitioners? The Drainage Hub

Who are UKDP? Pre transfer, UKDP worked under the ABI Drainage Forum ‘Protocol’, facilitating domestic shared drainage projects Referrals from over 70 Councils across England and Wales UKDP is not a contractor and co-ordinated the various parties involved as an alternative to formal enforcement action

An overview of the Transfer On 1st October 2011, existing gravity sewers and lateral drains discharging to public sewers transferred to Water & Sewerage Company (WaSC) ownership Defra’s objectives were that this transfer would; End sources of disputes between neighbours Ensure that responsibility rests with a body resourced for repairs and which has power to undertake them Solve the private sewer problem forever by ensuring all new sewers comply with sensible construction standards and are adopted Set those standards nationally rather than each WaSC setting their own

Responsibility – Pre Transfer Image courtesy of United Utilities

Responsibility – Post Transfer Image courtesy of United Utilities

Which assets haven’t transferred? Pumping stations (to transfer by 1 st October 2016) Sewers and lateral drains located beneath Crown Land Systems serving multiple properties within a single curtilage e.g. Business Parks, Ports & airports, Railway land Systems subject to a successful appeal by it’s owners against transfer Self contained sewerage systems (septic tanks, cess pits etc.)

What are the challenges facing Environmental Health Teams? Financial constraints on WaSCs often mean a reactive approach to drainage issues Continued lack of clarity around legal powers to take action, where an environmental health risk arises Self contained sewerage systems, often by their nature a more complex issue Lack of cross industry communication – multiple parties involved in issue resolution

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