A blocked drain is bad enough without an argument over who pays for it. In Great Yarmouth and the rest of Norfolk, the answer depends on where the blockage sits and when your home was built. This guide explains the split in plain words.

Which company handles sewerage here?

In Great Yarmouth, Anglian Water provides sewerage. Essex & Suffolk Water supplies the drinking water. Local press has reported that these two companies used to send separate bills to households in the Yarmouth area, which shows how the jobs are divided.

Because of this, a blocked public sewer is a job for Anglian Water, not for your plumber or your neighbour. Your own pipes are a different matter. The next sections show where one ends and the other begins.

The four kinds of pipe

Most confusion comes from the names. Here is what each one means.

Your own drain

This is the pipe inside your property boundary. It carries wastewater from your toilets, showers and sinks, plus rainwater from your roof. Anglian Water says you are responsible for it, or your landlord if you rent.

A lateral drain

A lateral drain serves one property but runs outside its boundary. Anglian Water describes these pipes as usually lying in back gardens, under a street or under a footpath. Before 2011, the owner and the sewerage company shared the duty for pipes like this.

A shared or private sewer

A private sewer serves more than one property. Think of a pipe that collects waste from two or three neighbouring houses. It usually joins the main sewer at some point along the way.

The public sewer

The main public sewers lie under roads and footpaths. Anglian Water says its teams maintain and repair all of them. These are never the homeowner’s job.

What changed in 2011?

The rules changed on 1 October 2011. Private sewers and lateral drains that were built and connected to the public sewer before 1 July 2011 passed to the regulated sewerage company. In this area, that company is Anglian Water. GOV.UK announced the change in 2011 as a way to free customers from unexpected repair bills.

Before then, responsibility was split between owners and the companies. This caused confusion and disputes when problems arose. The transfer was meant to end that.

Are some pipes still private?

Yes, and this is where people get caught out. The transfer does not cover pipes that were laid after 1 July 2011. Those stay with the owner or the developer, unless the developer signed a formal adoption agreement with the sewerage company.

It also does not cover pipes that never connected to the public sewer. For example, a pipe running to a septic tank or cesspit remains private. Ofwat adds that some private pumping stations and rainwater-only drains were left out.

In short, if your home was built before 2011, Anglian Water generally looks after pipes you share with neighbours. If it was built after 2011, you may still own the shared section.

Who should you call?

Start by working out where the blockage is. Warning signs include slow drains, gurgling noises and bad smells. If several toilets and sinks back up at once, the problem is often further down the line. If only one fixture is slow, the cause is usually inside your own pipes.

If you think a public sewer is blocked, report it to Anglian Water. Anglian Water says it will send its teams to fix its own sewers. However, if the fault is in your drain or private sewer, you or your landlord must arrange a drain clearing company.

That is where a local plumber helps. Our team can find the blockage and clear it through our blocked drains service. We cover Great Yarmouth and nearby Norfolk, and you can use our online quote form or call out our 24/7 emergency service if sewage is backing up.

Can a camera settle the question?

Often it can. A CCTV drain survey shows the pipe from inside, so you can see exactly where the blockage or crack lies. You can then match that position against the boundary of your property. As a result, you know whether to call your plumber or the sewerage company.

A survey also helps if a neighbour disputes who is at fault. Video evidence is clear, and Anglian Water can use it when it checks the pipe.

Tips before you pick up the phone

A few minutes of checking can save a wasted visit. Have these facts ready, because any engineer will want to know.

First, check when your home was built. Next, look at whether the blocked pipe is shared with neighbours. Then note where the water backs up, because this tells the engineer a lot.

If you are unsure about a particular drain, Anglian Water says its drainage team can take a closer look at what applies to a specific sewer. Its maps also show which new-build sewers have been adopted. Therefore, a little checking first can save you paying for a job that is not yours.

In addition, keep any letters from the developer if you bought a new-build home. They may mention whether the sewers were adopted. Meanwhile, if sewage is already coming up inside, tell the engineer straight away so they can bring the right kit.

Finally, never pour fat down the sink or flush wipes. These cause many blockages, and they are your responsibility whoever owns the pipe.

More plumbing guides

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: 5 Signs You Need Drain Cleaning, Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter and Guide to Choosing a Water Heater. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: Burst Pipe: What to Do in the First Hour in Your Home, Hard Water in Great Yarmouth: Boilers and Heaters Guide and Annual Boiler Service and Gas Safe: What You Need to Know. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

These guides cover related ground. However, each one answers a different question, so read the ones that match your problem: What Not to Flush: Wipes, Fat and Blocked Drains and How to Spot a Hidden Water Leak at Home Early. Because they share the same simple advice, you can move between them easily.

Plumbing help near you

We cover Great Yarmouth and nearby Norfolk, so help is close by. For example, we can help with sewer line repair in Hopton-on-Sea, sewer line repair in Stalham, sewer line repair in Beccles and sewer line repair in Great Yarmouth. Each page explains how the service works in that town.

However, the same advice applies across the area. If you live nearby, see blocked drains in Gorleston-on-Sea, blocked drains in Caister-on-Sea, blocked drains in Bradwell or blocked drains in Hemsby. Because we quote before any work starts, you can compare the options with no pressure.