Drain and Sewer Definitions

Before diving into ownership and maintenance responsibilities, let’s define some key terms:

• Private Drain: This is a pipe that serves the purpose of draining water and waste from a building and any associated structures (e.g., garages). Maintenance responsibility is with the property owner until it leaves their property boundary or connects to another property’s drain.

• Lateral Drain: This is a pipe that carries wastewater from a property boundary to a public sewer, and is usually located outside the property boundary, or at the point where two property drains connect. A lateral drain is often located beneath a public pavement or road. In some cases, a lateral drain may run beneath a private property if it shares a drain with a neighbour. Maintenance responsibilities are with the local water company.

• Public Sewer: A network of pipes that collects water and waste from multiple drains and various buildings, most often operated and maintained by water companies. Responsibility for maintenance of a public sewer is with the local water company.

Some properties are not connected to a sewer but rely on alternative systems like cesspools, septic tanks, or treatment plants for wastewater disposal. In these cases, the property owners are not required to pay sewerage charges to a sewerage company (water company), and the pipework connections are defined as private drains. The owners of these systems are generally responsible for maintenance.