Our series on the questions in the CON29DW looks at pumping stations – the subject of two recent additions to the search
Questions 2.4.1 and 2.5.1 were only added to the CON29DW in late 2016. The former asks whether any public pumping stations (or ancillary apparatus) are located within the boundary of the property. The latter asks whether any pumping stations are located within 50 metres.
The reason for this late addition is to do with a change in the law around that date. In 2011, the majority of private sewers in England and Wales were transferred by the government into the ownership of water companies. A similar transfer took place in the 1930s.
As part of this process, most private pumping stations were also transferred. Those serving multiple properties, or serving a single property but located outside the property boundary were set to become the responsibility of water companies.
However, whilst sewers were transferred in October 2011, water companies were given five years – until October 2016 – to transfer pumping stations.
The reason for this delay is essentially the same reason we have chosen to add two questions about pumping stations into the CON29DW. Once sewers are in place, they will generally work perfectly for many years with little or no human intervention.
Pumping stations on the other hand, are more complex. Most sewers are known as ‘gravity sewers’, and, as the name suggests, work through gravity, allowing sewage to flow downhill until it reaches its destination. Pumping stations are used to pump sewage under pressure when using gravity isn’t possible.
Pumping stations require regular inspection and maintenance in order to ensure they remain in good working order. Where a pumping station was originally privately owned – as with those included in the recent transfer – this is even more important as they will not usually have been constructed to the standards required by water companies.
This maintenance can sometimes be disruptive to homeowners and nearby residents. Water companies will need access to them, and have statutory rights to enter private land to access their assets. Less important, but worth noting is that pumping stations can be noisy and, if above ground can be unsightly.
There’s also another important reason why we include this information. The sewers leading from pumping stations pump sewage under pressure. Although a leak in a gravity sewer can be serious, a leak in a pressurised sewer can have serious consequences (they pump sewage under pressure, we’ll let you work out the details). Because water companies understandably want to protect these sewers, they are subject to stricter restrictions regarding development in their vicinity than gravity sewers. This can have implications should a property owner wish to carry out any development work.
A pumping station within or close to your property will rarely present major problems, but, should the CON29DW highlight one, we would always recommend that a prospective buyer should be aware of prior to purchase.