Private Sewage Pumping Station
What is a private pumping station?
A private pumping station is a structure that is built into the ground to collect wastewater and pump it to a central sewer system.
Some properties require pumping stations to transport their sewage to the nearest mainline or lateral gravity sewer when gravity flow is not sufficient enough to transport wastewater.
Sewage pumping stations are also commonly found on small housing developments, remote farms or small business parks.
If your property is affected, you will likely already be aware of it.
Who is responsible for private pumping stations?
On October 1, 2011, the responsibility of private sewers and lateral drains was transferred to the Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCs). Part of this legislation was that by October 1, 2016, all eligible private pumping stations would be transferred to WaSCs.
Eligible private sewage pumping stations included privately owned pumping stations (and rising mains) that served more than one property connected to the public sewer, as well as pumping stations that served a single property but were located outside the property boundary.
Find out more information on the legal changes that were made to the ownership of sewers in our article ‘What are private drains and sewers?’.
When will it happen?
Pumping stations which are eligible for adoption will transfer on 1 October 2016. This timeframe will allow the WASCS to find out where the stations are and what condition they are in, and to manage legal matters such as land and access, prior to the transfer.
In the meantime
Until the official transfer, property owners served by a sewage pumping station are responsible for the network of pipes, and the pumping station and rising/pumping main to the point where it connects to the public sewer. And owners will remain responsible for the pumping station until such time as it is adopted, even though the pipework may already have transferred.
Which private sewage pumping stations were not transferred to WaSCs?
Just as pipes inside the property boundary and serving only that property remained the responsibility of the property owner. Private pumping stations serving only one property and located within the boundary of the property did not transfer to the WaSCs under the 2011 Private Drains and Sewers legislation.
Pumping stations that serve multiple buildings but are managed centrally (eg retail parks, hospitals, caravan parks, industrial estates, etc) were also not made the responsibility of WaSCs.
How many private pumping stations were transferred to WaSCs?
At the time of the private sewer and drain transfer in 2011, DEFRA estimated that there were approximately 33,000 private pumping stations operating throughout the UK. That was quite a task for the WaSCs, who had to identify all the eligible sewage pumping stations by 1 October 2016.
Each water company had to work towards the deadline, and information on how they proceeded with the task can be found on their website. The government also provided a guidance document that highlighted the issues likely to arise from the transfer.
Read the document ‘The private sewers transfer regulations’ for more information.
Did you have to make the transfer of responsibility?
If you believe that the transfer would be seriously detrimental to your interests, you have two months from the date of the legal notice you receive to appeal against it, via Ofwat.
Looking for sewer maintenance services?
Whether you need help with domestic or commercial sewer drain blockages. At Lanes, we have the equipment and resources to inspect, repair, clean and maintain sewer drains of all shapes and sizes.
Take a look at our sewer services page or our specialist wastewater sector page to find out how we can help you.
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