Building close to public sewers

[dg]

As part of an application for Bregs approval, approval is required from the local water company as there is a public sewer 2m away from a proposed new wall and running parellel with it.

On previous similar applications, building control have just forwarded a copy of the drawings for their information, and as long as they were happy with the foundation design and depth, then water company approval was given.

However this time, the water company is asking for a CCT survey of the sewer.

I can't see the point of this survey, and why the applicant should have to pay for it.

Does anyone know where their authority comes from for this CCT request? Surely if the design is not going to impact on the sewer, then drawings should be sufficient?

dg

[Peter Crosland]

I have not looked up the exact rules but no doubt someone will be along with them soon! Having said that work within a certain distance is subject to approval by the sewer owner. A before and after CCTV inspection will prove if any of your works have caused any damage. If so you will have to pay for the damage to be remedied. Since it is you that is having the work done you have to pay. Why should someone else should subsidise the cost of your works?

Peter Crosland

[Len]

If you have the CCT inspection done before you start the work it may show an existing fault, which would therefore not be your responsibility?

Cheers

Len

[dg]

I was thinking more along the lines of "why should someone have to pay to check the condition of public sewers?" The local water company will get a free survey of significant lengths of pipe run, and then I presume will use the information for their own purposes.

I agree that any damage should be paid for by the person causing it, but only when and if it occurs.

It occurs to me that with all the varied types of domestic building work that goes on, there is great potential for one persons work to cause damage to adjacent property, and yet no before and after compulsary building survey is required. If damage does occur then remedy is pursued afterwards.

If bulding control can check a drawing in relation to building close to drains (ie in compliance with the Approved Document) then why cant the water company do this too, and be satisfied?

dg

[Hugo Nebula]

On 9 Oct 2005 15:19:51 -0700, a particular chimpanzee named "dg" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

The exact location of drains, and depths of foundations are the kinds of things that generally can't be established until work starts. I've known the sewerage company ask the applicant for a CCTV survey where their sewer is a large diameter serving many properties, or where it's old or damaged.

OTOH I can't understand why anyone would be willing to take the risk of building over or near a private drain or sewer without inspecting it in some way.

[Peter Crosland]

AFAICS the reason for the before survey is that there will be clear evidence of any pre-existing damage. The knowldege of that could well work in favour of the person doing the building. Also remember that the exact location of many sewers is not knwn with precision.

This is often covered by the Party Wall Act that applies in many cases not just to the actual wall but a distance either side.

Peter Crosland