What is the difference between Access Chambers, Inspection Chambers and Manholes?
An Access Chamber is usually a small round chamber, literally just for access for unblocking. These are the small uPVC type, with 280 - 320mm diameter.
An Inspection Chamber (IC) is the common type found at a residential property, and is usually of the 600mm x 450mm (2' x 1 1/2') size, usually with a depth <1.2m. They can be constructed of pre-fab concrete sections, bricks, or the more recent PVC (450mm).
A Manhole (MH) literally means a chamber that a man can fit in, usually with a depth >1.2m. The minimum sized cover for a MH under current building regulations is 600mm x 600mm. Manholes are usually made up of pre-fab concrete sections (rings or rectangles), although can be constructed from brick too (two courses of engineering bricks, 225mm (9") thick).
Drains and sewers definitions
The number of properties that a pipe serves and where it is in relation to those properties generally determines whether it is a drain or sewer.
The following are some general definitions:
Drain : a drainage pipe serving just one property
Sewer : a drainage pipe serving more than one property
Public sewer : a sewer adopted by the sewerage undertaker
Private sewer : a sewer owned by all the homeowners served by the pipe
Lateral drain : a drainage pipe that serves a single property but is outside the boundary of that property
To avoid blocking your drains, follow Southern Water's advice on:
What not to flush away by looking at the
'Bag it and Bin it' campaign on the Southern Water website
How to deal with cooking fat by looking at the
'Pain in the drain' campaign on the Southern Water website
Blocked road gullys
Surface water drainage of roads and footpaths is the responsibility of West/East Sussex County Council, except for eg. the A27, which is the Highway Agency's.
Responsibility for drains and sewers
Sewers and drains are either the responsibility of homeowners or the sewerage undertaker, which in this area is Southern Water.
Since 1st October 2011, most sewers and lateral drains have been adopted by Southern Water and become public sewers.
In general terms:
A drain on your property which serves only your property is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain, repair and unblock where necessary.
A drain which serves only your property but which is located on someone else's land is the responsibility of Southern Water.
A private sewer which serves more than one household is the responsibility of Southern Water.
Drainage which serves blocks of flats, commercial buildings and more unusual situations may vary from the above and should be discussed directly with Southern Water.
Sewers and drain responsibilities explained
What am I responsible for ?
There are an awful lot of pipes, drains and sewers hidden away from view inside homes and under the ground, so it is worth bearing in mind that responsibility for their upkeep is in the hands of different organisations and people – including you.
What you are responsible for
:
The pipes, gutters and drains in and around your home, including the drains from your property up to your boundary.
What Southern Water is responsible for :
The big public sewers that take sewage and rainwater run-off to wastewater treatment works (the pipes from your property’s boundary that lead into the public sewer). Many of the shared drains where several properties' drains meet together before they join the public sewer – if you suspect that this is blocked, please contact us.
What your local authority is responsible for :
Road gullies; these are small grate-covered openings at the edge of roads, and are used to drain surface water from the highway. If you are worried about blockages or smells from these, please call the council.