As a part of our proactive maintenance schedule, we conduct CCTV inspections of the sewer network to identify any potential faults and conduct cleaning activities to prevent sewer overflows. This helps us to maintain the health of the sewer assets and reduce the likeliness of service interruptions.
What is CCTV inspections and Sewer Cleaning?
Conducting CCTV inspections of the sewer network helps us to check for any issues, such as broken pipes, cracks or things obstructing the pipes like tree roots, fat and/or grit or other blockages from foreign objects.
To do this, we feed a CCTV cable into the sewer pipe so we can see what might be in there so corrective action can be taken to clean or repair the sewer pipe if required.
The sewer cleaning program is a preventative maintenance method designed to remove known causes of sewer pipe blockages ie recurring tree roots, prior to causing a blockage. If left untreated, these issues can have major impacts on the sewer network and can cause unexpected interruptions.
Image: CCTV Footage of a tree root found in a sewer pipe (before being cleaned)
What can I expect?
You will receive a notice advising that works will be taking place in your area if a sewer maintenance hole requiring access is located on your property.
Works generally take about 1-3 hours to complete, and are carried out Monday to Friday, between 6am and 5pm, with some occasional work from 7am to 2pm on Saturdays, if required.
You may continue to use your sewer facilities (toilets, taps, showers, etc.) during the maintenance works.
Do I need to do anything?
If you have a sewer maintenance hole on your property, we may need to enter your property to access this.
If Urban Utilities are conducting CCTV or cleaning activities of the sewer pipe between your property connection and the sewer main, we may need to enter your property to access your sewer inspection opening (IO), Overflow Relief Gully (ORG) or sewer ventilation stack.
Urban Utilities and its authorised persons (including our contractors) are able to access private property to perform works on our assets under section 36 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
Urban Utilities will not access your property until at least 14 days have elapsed from giving notice or we have been given permission to do so in lieu of this notice.
What if I have a dog or a locked gate?
If special access arrangements need to be made due to a security gate or a dog in your yard, etc, please contact us on the email address provided on the notice.
We will work with you to find a suitable time to carry out the work.
What does a sewer inspection opening or overflow relief gully (ORG) look like?
An ORG is a drain-like fitting located in the ground outside the home, usually near the laundry area. It is part of your private plumbing and drainage. The sewer inspection opening (IO) is the access point to the private drain.
An example of an ORG and IO is shown on the photos below.
ORG
Inspection opening