Properties which have their wastewater removed by private pumping stations will also be affected by the sewer ownership changes.

On October 1, private sewers and lateral drains transferred to sewerage companies, see our main page.

However for properties served by a private pumping station, the pumping station and associated rising main (also known as pumping main, the sewer pipe which takes wastewater away from the pumping station) will not be transferred immediately, but will be adopted progressively between October 2011 and October 2016.

Property owners served by a pumping station are currently responsible for the network of pipes, and the pumping station and rising/pumping main, to the point where they connect to the public sewer.

As of October 1, 2011 sewerage companies are responsible for all pipes up and downstream of the pumping station (except the rising/pumping main) which are outside property boundaries or serve more than one property.

Property owners will remain responsible for the pumping station, valve chamber and rising main until it is adopted. This will take place during the period up to October 2016. Pipes inside the property boundary, and serving only that property, will remain the responsibility of the property owner.

Private pumping stations serving just one property, and within the boundary of a property, will not transfer under the current legislation, remaining the homeowner’s responsibility. However, the rising main/lateral drain outside the boundary of the property will transfer on October 1, 2016.

We are gathering information about pumping stations, click here to find out more.