Public Health - Drainage

Description

 

Drains are pipes which carry foul waste water and surface water from one house. When one drain meets another, it becomes a sewer. A sewer or drain is still owned by the people who use it, even when it has left their property boundary, until it enters a "public sewer", or is an older sewer maintained by Yorkshire Water.  Barnsley Council looks after the network of public sewers and Yorkshire Water are responsible for some sewers constructed before 1937.  However, other drains and sewers are the responsibility of the owner or occupiers who use them.  All the people who use a drain or sewer share joint responsibility for its maintenance, repair and upkeep, until it enters a public sewer.  Sewers are not the gullies or grids that can be found in the road to take water off the highway. Barnsley Council can provide help and advice on drainage issues, whether land, private or highway drainage.

Where a drain or sewer becomes blocked or defective, it can quickly start to contaminate watercourses or allow sewage to discharge to the surface, causing a public health nuisance .  

Eligibility

 

This service is available to all residents and businesses in the Borough

 

Procedure

 Upon receipt of a complaint, an officer will normally visit the locatiopn to ascertain the cause of any drainage problem.  This will involve trying to find out exactly where a blockage etc is occurring, and may require the lifting of manhols chamber lids, putting a drain camera down the pipes to find out what has happened or dye testing various drains or sewers to see where they flow.

The properties that are served by the drain or sewer will be ascertained, and where the affected system is a drain or private sewer, legal notices will be served on all those who use the drain/sewer, above where the problem has occurred. 

In such cases, this would require the owner/occupiers who uses the privately owned defective/blocked drain or sewer, to remedy the problem.  Private contractors can be employed by the people affected, or household insurance companies can be contacted, to ascertain if the blockage is covered through their policy.  If the notices are not complied with in the time allowed, works would be arranged by the Council and the owner/occupiers would be charged for the work carried out.

 

Helplines

Regulatory Services, Environmental Control Team: 01226 772468.
Email: Regulatory Services

 

Charges/Fees

 

There is no charge for advice and guidance.

If the Council has taken action to remedy a defective/blocked private drain or sewer, the owner/occupiers will be notified and charged accordingly.

 

Methods of Payment Available

 

If works are undertaken after a notice has not been complied with, an invoice will be raised.  See details for payment methods on the invoice.

Arrangements can be made to pay by installments. See advice on the invoice.

 

Opening Times/Locations

 

Our office at the Civic Hall on Eldon Street, Barnsley, is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

 

How the customer can help

 

If you would like to report a problem, please provide as much detail as possible, including the location and extent of the problem.

If a visit is required, please provide suitable visiting times.

 

Legislation

 

• Building Act 1984
• Public Health Act 1961
• Local Government Miscellaneous Provision Act 1976

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 

We aim to investigate as soon as possible, but prioritise problems that have a potential for significant environmental or public health  problems.  Often, a visit the next working day is possible.  Investigations into the cause of the problem, who is responsible and what is required to put things right can take a little time.  A legal notice also requires the works to be carried out after allowing a set time to comply.

Owner Officer Contact Details

 

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Regulatory Services
PO Box 602
Barnsley
S70 9FB
Phone: Regulatory Services 01226 772468
Email: Regulatory Services
Fax: (01226) 775699

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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

A 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 owners/ occupiers and any other properties connected to it. Private contractors, the householder's insurance company in some cases and the Council can arrange for clearance of a blocked drain.

Q How do I find out whether a drain / sewer is public or private?

A Contact us and we will check our records.

Q Who is responsible?

A It is the responsibility of the owners/occupiers to maintain and clear a private drain/sewer. If the property is rented then it is normally the landlord's responsibility. Where a private sewer is blocked, all the drains that feed into the sewer above the blockage share legal responsibility for putting it right. The Council can take legal action against those affected and arrange to have the works done, then charge all those affected, so as to make things easy if many people are involved.

Last modified on 16/9/2008