Section 102 existing sewer adoption
See also: Section 102 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 enabling a notice to be issued ordering the discontinuing use, or alteration or removal of buildings or works.
Section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991 provides a mechanism for newly-constructed private sewers and pumping stations to be ‘adopted’ by the local sewerage authority, who will then maintain them at their own expense.
However, sometimes sewers are not adopted when they are constructed. The most common reasons for this are that they have not been constructed to the required standards or that they are in inaccessible locations.
Section 102 of the Water Industry Act, allows the owners of existing private sewers and associated apparatus to apply for them to be ‘adopted’ by the local sewerage authority, who will then maintain them at their own expense.
Authorities may consider adopting private sewers if they are of a suitable construction, they form part of the general sewerage system for the area and they are accessible.
The applicant must first submit general information about the sewer to the authority, who will consider whether it may be appropriate for adoption. Further information is then submitted about the condition of the sewer, and it may then be necessary to carry out remedial works to bring it up to an adoptable standard, as set out in ‘Sewers for Adoption – a Design and Construction Guide for Developers’. An application fee is payable and any direct or associated costs must be met by the applicant.
There is then a statutory 2 month period for objection to the adoption, after which, the sewer may be adopted as a public sewer.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Drainage.
- French drain.
- Groundwater control in urban areas.
- Highway drainage.
- Planning for floods.
- Private sewer.
- Public sewer.
- Rainwater harvesting.
- Safe working in drains and sewers.
- Section 102 (the discontinuing use, or alteration or removal of buildings or works).
- Section 104.
- Septic tank.
- Sewer construction.
- Sewerage.
- Soakaway.
- Soil vent pipe.
- Sustainable urban drainage systems SUDS.
- Water engineering.
- Water transfers and interconnections.
Featured articles and news
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.