What is surface water drainage and why is it important to get right in your home?
You may have noticed that it rains quite a lot in Britain, so getting youroff mains drainagein shape to handle the deluges and drizzle is important.
Damage from localised flooding can be a real issue where the level of drainage is insufficient or cannot cope with the volume of rainwater.
Sometimes if the surface water drainage on your property is ineffective it can result in discharge of water onto neighbouring properties. This can cause disputes or legal issues.
What is surface water drainage?
Surface water drainage is the process of collecting and carrying away the rainwater that falls on hard surfaces. The majority of rainwater that falls on properties in the UK drains into public sewers, which are operated by several water companies in England and Wales.
These companies are responsible for dealing with the removal and processing of this water. The cost for this service is added to the water bill of householders unless the property uses a soakaway rather than public sewers. In these circumstances a surface water rebate is applicable.
Natalie Mitchell, property and construction expert atHomeHow.co.uk, says there are issues that can impact drainage around your property that you should be aware of.
“These include tree roots damaging or blocking drainpipes, land movement or subsidence or the impact of heavy traffic or construction work above drainage systems,” she said. “Any of these issues could cause a failure in the drains. Excess surface water can also create problems including subsurface moisture levels causing structural issues with the property."
地表水流域的例子是什么?
All the parts of your guttering system are surface water drainage. They collect and dispose of the rainwater into the sewer system. So, your gutters, downpipes and external drains are all components of surface water drainage.
Drains on public roads are also part of this system. Anything that facilitates the collection and disposal of rain and runoff water is surface water drainage.
Natalie adds: “Badly laid driveways or patios with little or no fall can result in surface water from rain and runoff not draining away. This can penetrate the fabric of the house and cause damp and mould issues if not resolved.
“把前花园变成off-stre的趋势et parking has reduced the amount of soil available for the natural absorption of rainwater. This extra expanse of concrete means rainwater has to find its way to the closest drain rather than being absorbed by the ground.”
Can I claim a surface water drainage rebate on my water bill?
If your water does not discharge into the public sewer system, but into a private soakaway or other private system then you can claim a surface water drainage rebate on your water bill.
This is because you are providing the drainage system not the local water company.
Here's how to apply for asurface water drainage rebate— which you can even backdate six years.
How do I know if my house has surface water drainage?
Any property with guttering, downpipes, drains or channels has surface water drainage. If there is a soakaway at your home, then you may see an indentation leading from the house to a slightly sunken area of your garden.
Urban areas are more susceptible to flood during heavy and sustained rainfall. This is because the ground in urban areas is more likely to be covered by concrete which does not absorb water. In fact, more properties are at risk of surface water flooding than those at risk of river or sea water ingress.
Low lying properties may be more susceptible to flooding depending on the provisions made for surface water runoff. If you are finding that every time it rains deep water pools on your patio or driveway, it is likely either you need surface water drainage or the system you have in place is not adequate for your home's needs.
You may want to dive into our guide aboutdrainage surveysif you need advice on all the issues you may face.
