Service
Drains and blockages in the Cotswolds
Short answer
You are responsible for drains inside your property boundary that serve only your home. The water company is responsible for public sewers, and for sewers you share with neighbours, even under your garden. It took over most private shared sewers on 1 October 2011. This page explains who to call, and lists Cotswold firms that clear drains.
Firms found on a trade register first, then A to Z.
| Firm | Based in | Does | Checks | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal LtdLtd company 06572645 | Cirencester GL7 Covers Cirencester |
Central heating, Commercial, General plumbing, Leaks and repairs, +14 | 01285 869584Website | |
| Plumbtec (South West) LtdLtd company 03842101 | Nailsworth GL6 Covers Stroud, Nailsworth |
General plumbing, Bathrooms, Hot water cylinders, Water supply pipes, +7 | 0117 244 3280Website | |
| JH Plumbing | Hailey OX29 Covers Witney, Chipping Norton, Burford |
General plumbing, Leaks and repairs, Bathrooms, Drains, +6 | Trading, no register found | 07515 284286Website |
| Seasons Plumbing and Heating | Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 Covers Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh |
General plumbing, Leaks and repairs, Drains, Hot water cylinders, +10 | Trading, no register found | 07876 288288Website |
No firms match. Clear a filter to see more.
Who owns which drain
The owner is responsible for waste pipes inside the property boundary that serve only that home. This includes gullies, gutters and drains.
The water company owns the public sewers under roads and footpaths. It is also responsible for sewers that you share with neighbours, even if they are under your garden or drive.
After a change in the law, water companies became responsible for most private shared sewers from 1 October 2011. You are still responsible for the pipe between your house and that sewer.
Who to call
If only your home is affected, the blockage is probably in your own drain. Call a drainage firm or plumber.
If neighbours also have a problem, or a manhole outside your boundary is full, the blockage may be in a shared or public sewer. Call your water company first. Your bill names it.
Local factors in the Cotswolds
Many rural Cotswold homes are not on mains drains. They use a septic tank or a small sewage treatment plant. The owner is responsible for the whole system, and it must meet the Environment Agency’s general binding rules.
Old clay drains in stone houses can crack, or tree roots can get in. A CCTV survey shows the inside of the pipe before you pay for a repair.
What to ask a firm
Ask what the price covers before the firm starts work.
- Is the price fixed per visit, or per hour?
- Does it include a CCTV survey and a written report?
- Will you tell me if the blockage is in a shared or public sewer?
- Can you empty or service a septic tank, and are you a registered waste carrier?
- Does the price include VAT?
Questions
Does the water company clear my blocked drain for free?
Only if the blockage is in a public sewer or a shared sewer. If the drain serves only your home and is inside your boundary, you pay.
My home was built after 2011. Who owns the sewer?
It depends. Sewers on newer estates are not always adopted by the water company. Ask your water company.
Who is responsible for a septic tank?
The owner. You must keep it in good order, have it emptied, and meet the general binding rules.