As covered in this month’s CPI Update, The Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1566) came into force on July 1, 2011. These regulations bring about, on October 1, 2011, a major change in responsibility for sewers and drains in England and Wales by transferring out of private ownership all lateral drains and private sewers. The regulations require the Secretary of State (or Welsh ministers) to make schemes for the adoption of all private sewers and lateral drains which immediately before July 1 communicate with a public sewer. The schemes will provide for the relevant sewerage undertakings to make vesting declarations under section 102 Water Industry Act 1991 to vest the drains and sewers on October 1, 2011.
In the light of this, see the scheme made on July 1 by the Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For further published Government information, see also DEFRA information on sewers and drains.