Drainage

The public sewerage network in the Chester district is owned by Welsh Water  (external link) or United Utilities  (external link) depending on where you live. You may find a different company collects your water charges than the one providing this service. If you wish to report a problem affecting the public sewerage network in the Welsh Water area you can contact Welsh Water on 0800 085 5935, and United Utilities on 0800 0520130.

For problems affecting highway drains such as blocked road gullies, please contact Cheshire County Council Highway's Department  (external link) on Chester 603475.

Your drains

If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or gullies outside will overflow. There will also probably be a smell.

The drains which runs from your property are your own responsibility. Where your drain meets with a neighbour's drain, the pipework becomes a private sewer whose responsibility is shared amongst those whom derive benefit from it. Disputes can arise where blockages occur and one of the responsible owners is unwilling to pay their proportion of the cost of clearance. It is a common misconception that when a drainage pipe leaves the boundary of one property, the responsibility for it's maintenance becomes someone else's responsibility. In actual fact, if your property is upstream of the defect or blockage, you are partially responsible for its upkeep.

Making the right connections

In properties where there are separate drains for wastewater and surface water, the water from your bathroom, toilet, kitchen and washing machines must go into the wastewater drain to be taken away and treated. The separate surface water drain collects rainwater from roofs, gutters and paths. This relatively clean water can be put back into local rivers and streams. Wrong connections can happen when new toilets, sinks or kitchen appliances are fitted, particularly in home extensions. The pipes which take water to each of the separate drainage systems are often very close together and can be confused.

• Don't connect waste pipes to drains which collect rainwater from your roof or paths.
• Do check with your local council if you are in any doubt about proposed or existing drains.
• Do use a reputable plumber, or if you do the work yourself, make sure you know exactly what is needed.

Areas with Mains Drainage Listed by Place Name Indicating Water Company Responsibility

• ALDFORD WW
• ASHTON UU
• BACKFORD WW
• BARTON WW
• BLACON WW
• BOUGHTON WW
• BRIDGE TRAFFORD UU
• CAPENHURST UU
• CHESTER CITY WW
• CHRISTLETON WW
• CHURTON WW
• CLUTTON WW
• DODLESTON WW
• DUNHAM HILL UU
• ELTON UU
• ECCLESTON WW
• FARNDON WW
• GREAT BOUGHTON WW
• GUILDEN SUTTON UU
• (Guilden Sutton La Hare Lane Moorcroft Cres  WW )
• HAPSFORD UU
• HOOLE WW
• HOOLE VILLAGE UU
• Greenfield Cres, Greenfield La, Hoole Rd and Long La WW
• HUNTINGTON WW
• KELSALL UU
• LACHE WW
• LITTLETON WW
• MICKLE TRAFFORD UU
• MOLLINGTON WW
• MALPAS WW
• NEWTON WW
• NOMANSHEATH WW
• PIPERS ASH WW
• PULFORD WW
• ROWTON UU
• Claypitts La, Greenfields La, Promised Land La and Rowton La WW
• SAUGHALL WW
• SAIGHTON WW
• STOAK UU
• OSCROFT UU
• TARVIN UU
• TATTENHALL WW
• THORNTON-LE-MOORS UU
• TILSTON WW
• UPTON WW
• WAVERTON UU
• WERVIN UU
• WIMBOLDS TRAFFORD UU

WW  - Welsh Water
UU - United Utilities