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If you are extending or building a new building then the presence of a sewer nearby can have a big impact on the cost or even feasibility of the project. Public sewers within Warwick District are the responsibility of Severn Trent Water. For more information see the Severn Trent Water website.
By law if you intend to build over or close to (normally within 3 metres) a public sewer then you have to apply to Severn Trent Water for a building over agreement. As part of this application you will need to get a CCTV survey of the drain both before the work and afterwards. This, together with the cost of the application can add £700 or more onto the cost of the building work.
What is a public sewer?
Some of the building terminology needs explaining here as to what we are referring to. A drain is a pipe which takes waste water, whether foul or rainwater, away from a single building. For all buildings with mains sewerage the drain will at some point come to a junction with another pipe, which is known as a sewer. In other words, a sewer is a pipe which serves more than one property. Some sewers are private and are the responsibility solely of the owners of the properties which they serve. Public sewers are those which are maintained by Severn Trent Water in our district.
How do I know if there is a public sewer nearby?
The location of sewers laid after 1937 is known by Severn Trent Water. Modern sewers normally run under roads, but sometimes they do run across gardens or next to buildings. Warwick District Council hold a set of maps freely available for viewing by anyone wanting to check if there is a sewer near their property. Simply come into reception at Riverside House and ask to see the sewer maps for your address.
Unfortunately for older sewers (those laid before 1937) it is not always known where these run. Some of these older sewers are shown on the public sewer maps, but many are not. This can be a problem for those with older properties, especially Victorian terraces when coming to extend, as the sewer might only be located during the building work. If a public sewer is discovered during the building work, then an application will need to be made to Severn Trent Water if you are building over or within 3 metres.
For all building regulations applications involving new buildings or extensions then we will check the sewer maps as the application is processed. If we find a sewer nearby we will inform you at the earliest possible opportunity.
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