Information for contractors
The government’s transfer of private sewers to the water and wastewater companies was effective from 1 October 2011 for most private sewers and laterals in England and Wales.
This means that companies have taken over responsibility for maintenance and repairs.
In the short and medium term following transfer, the number of drainage jobs is not expected to change. The private sewers are thought to be in a worse condition than the public sewers that are currently managed by the water and sewerage companies, and bringing the whole network up to good standard is a sizeable task.
Procurement arrangements by the 10 water and sewerage companies in England and Wales vary, with many companies using their main (Tier 1) framework contractors for this work. These contractors may employ additional resources and it is possible that local experienced drainage contractors will carry out some of the additional work under sub-contract.
To enable contractors to access the procurement process the water and sewerage companies outlined their plans for managing the extra drainage jobs and provided email contacts from their businesses. It is expected that smaller contractors may get together to bid for this work within the procurement timetable.
Drains that do not transfer – those that are within the property boundary serving only the one property – remain the responsibility of the householder and require private drain clearance work, paid for by the individual property owner.
