Have you ever been curious about what lies beneath your property?

Your drains are a crucial network of pipes and connections, but because it’s hidden underground we often overlook this feature. 

Whether you’ve got big plans for renovations, a frustration with a persistent blockage or you’re buying a home, understanding the drainage system you’re dealing with can go a long way to solving your problems. However, finding those drainage plans – accurate plans – can feel like quite a mystery at times.

You know roughly where your drains are and have an inkling of how they function, but to save yourself headaches in certain scenarios, you really need a complete and detailed plan for your drains. That’s why we’ve created this guide to finding drainage plans for your home or property. We’ll look at why it’s important and how CCTV drain surveys can play their part in developing a clearer picture of your underground infrastructure.

Common reasons you might need drainage plans

What are the common reasons people seek our drainage plans? Here are three of the top reasons that we find people want to know more, aside from a general sense of curiosity.

For home renovations and construction work.

When you’re having something like a new extension built on your property, you need to check that new foundations and structures don’t interfere with your existing drainage layout. There are legal requirements involved when building near or over drainage systems, and you really don’t want to overwhelm or damage the system as it will be costly down the line.

For identifying and resolving drainage issues.

If you’ve been struggling with a drainage issue and you want to get to the bottom of it, getting to grips with the layout is a good first step. Finding any blockage or damage will mean knowing the exact location – it’s also key when you want to find out if repairs and maintenance of that part of the system are your responsibility or that of the local water authority in your area.

In preparation for a property transaction.

Purchasing a property is one of the biggest moves you can make in life, so you may not want to take chances if you suspect there is something wrong with the drains. Maybe you spotted signs of flooding on a visit or the owners alluded to past problems, but whatever the reason, assessing the condition and layout of drains – especially on an older property – is a smart idea. You could also look at finding drainage plans if you’re the seller and want to provide potential buyers with accurate information.

Sources for drainage plans

So, where can you obtain accurate drainage plans to help you in the scenarios set out above? Well, it’s not always straightforward, but here are several options available to you depending on where you live and what type of property it is:

1. Try and find property deeds and documents that you were given when you purchased the building. Your transaction will usually have to have included drainage layouts relayed to you along with all other important information at the time of buying.
2. Previous property owners may have had a drainage report or had access to original plans when the property was built. This is a long shot but could work if you still have their details or know the previous owners well enough.
3. Contacting your local water authority is one of the best ways to get accurate information. You can request an asset location plan, but this may come with fees to obtain the plans depending on the extent of the information needed.
4. Local councils are sometimes used to access archived drainage plans. This is more successful with newer properties, though again, it can come with administrative fees attached and potential limitations depending on the individual council and area.

The challenges with existing drainage plans

In the event that you manage to obtain some form of existing drainage plan, there are sometimes challenges that come with them. The biggest challenge is determining how up-to-date the plans are. They may lack recent modifications or be so old as to be outdated beyond use – this is more common the older the property is and the more changes that it has seen.

You could also find that plans only offer limited coverage of the system. Official plans may show you public sewers in your area but may omit private drains, making them less useful to your cause if you need them for practical reasons.

The role of CCTV drain surveys in drainage plans

If you’re having trouble locating existing, relevant plans for the drainage system on a home or building, then a CCTV drain survey could help. Using specialist cameras to inspect and map the layout of the system, you can achieve your goals – whether it’s finding a recurrent issue or building an extension. 

• Accurate – Get a precise map of the current layout of your drains
• Comprehensive – Identify every element, including blockages, damage and potential issues
• Non-invasive – A CCTV drain survey causes little to no disturbance to your property
• Cost-effective – By understanding your drains and detecting any problems, you can save on costly future repairs

How to arrange a CCTV drainage survey

The first steps to getting drainage plans for your property involve finding a reputable, professional drainage company. Knowing you have qualified engineers and surveyors on the job means you get full confidence in the resulting plans.

It’s always a good idea to ask what to expect during and after the survey. A good drainage company will be happy to explain the process and review the results with you if you believe there are any issues in your system.

Here at Express Drainage Surveys, we know how important accurate drainage plans can be. We actively encourage CCTV drain surveys to help maintain proper flow at your property and to help you understand your system if you have any work planned.

Our professional team are on hand to assist you, so why not contact us today and book a survey for your home or business?

Let us assess the integrity and functionality of your drains for peace of mind.