Difference between drains and sewers
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| − | A drain is a pipe that serves only one building, conveying water and waste water away to a sewer. | + | A drain is a pipe that serves only one building, conveying water and waste water away to a sewer. A lateral drain is a section of drain positioned outside the boundary of a building, connecting with the drains from other buildings to become a sewer. |
Sewers (sewerage), are the underground networks of pipes that carry sewage (waste water and excrement), waste water and surface water run-off, from drains to treatment facilities or disposal points. | Sewers (sewerage), are the underground networks of pipes that carry sewage (waste water and excrement), waste water and surface water run-off, from drains to treatment facilities or disposal points. | ||
| − | Whereas, property owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of | + | Whereas, property owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of drains inside the boundaries of their property (unless the drains of other properties run through their property), sewers, and lateral drains can be either publicly or privately-owned, and the responsibility for maintaining and repairing them lies with the local council or water company. |
Some buildings have drains that connect to a cesspool, septic tank or treatment plant rather than a sewer. | Some buildings have drains that connect to a cesspool, septic tank or treatment plant rather than a sewer. | ||
Revision as of 12:06, 5 January 2018
A drain is a pipe that serves only one building, conveying water and waste water away to a sewer. A lateral drain is a section of drain positioned outside the boundary of a building, connecting with the drains from other buildings to become a sewer.
Sewers (sewerage), are the underground networks of pipes that carry sewage (waste water and excrement), waste water and surface water run-off, from drains to treatment facilities or disposal points.
Whereas, property owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of drains inside the boundaries of their property (unless the drains of other properties run through their property), sewers, and lateral drains can be either publicly or privately-owned, and the responsibility for maintaining and repairing them lies with the local council or water company.
Some buildings have drains that connect to a cesspool, septic tank or treatment plant rather than a sewer.
Find out more
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Drainage.
- Drains.
- Groundwater control in urban areas.
- Pipework.
- Rain gutter.
- Rainwater downpipe.
- Safe working in drains and sewers.
- Sewer construction.
- Sewerage.
- Sustainable urban drainage systems SUDS.
- Water transfers and interconnections.
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