Sewage and Drainage
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On 1st October 2011 the responsibility for private sewers and drains is changing. For further information see Yorkshire Water's "THE BIG TRANSFER" Link
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 gullies or grids that can be seen on the highway.
Information on public and private drains and sewers (opens in a new window) (PDF, 545KB) is provided in a leaflet for you. |
How do I know my drain is blocked?
If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or the gullies will overflow outside.
Report a blocked drain or sewer
You should contact
Yorkshire Water (opens in a new window) as they look after the network of public sewers in the Harrogate District.
What is the difference between private and public sewers?
Public sewer: 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 Yorkshire Water to clear subject to certain criteria.
Private sewer: For properties built after 1st October 1937, all drains/sewers are the responsibility of the owner/occupiers and any other properties connected to it, unless it is in the main sewer.
Who is responsible?
It is the responsibility of the owner-occupier to maintain and clean-up a private sewer/drain. If you live in a row of houses, the problem could be shared. The house furthest away from the public sewer, is responsible for its drain until the second house joins, from then on both properties become responsible for the next section of the sewer and so on.
Please note the sewer will remain private until it joins the public system, even if the pipe runs under fields, roads or other peoples land.