Drainage services in Plymouth
Plymouth is a Devon city across the Tamar from Cornwall. Its suburbs include Plympton and Plymstock. City rules apply to all three, since one council runs them.
Drain help around Plymouth
This site has pages for nine towns in Devon and Cornwall. Each town has its own page, because the contacts differ from place to place. Each page explains who looks after the drains there.
Plymouth, Plympton and Plymstock sit in the same city, so city rules apply. Saltash, Torpoint and Liskeard are in Cornwall, while Ivybridge, Tavistock and Kingsbridge are in Devon. Councils and contacts differ between these groups.
You can send a request through the form at any time. The engineer who takes your job sets the price and the terms. So ask for a written quote before work starts, because prices differ.
Choose your town
Drainage services in Saltash
Saltash sits at the Cornwall end of the Tamar Bridge. Its drains follow Cornwall rules. South West Water looks after sewers there, while owners look after pipes on their own land.
Drainage services in Ivybridge
Ivybridge is a Devon town on the River Erme, which rises on Dartmoor. Drain ownership follows your boundary. Ask about the pipe first, because sewers belong to South West Water.
Drainage services in Tavistock
Tavistock is a Devon town in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Older homes can have older drains. A CCTV survey can help, because it shows the pipe from the inside.
Drainage services in Torpoint
Torpoint is a Cornwall town with a ferry link to Devonport. Its drains follow Cornwall rules. South West Water looks after sewers there, while owners look after their own land.
Drainage services in Plympton
Plympton is a suburb of Plymouth with three council wards. City rules apply to its drains. The council looks after the wards, while South West Water looks after the sewers.
Drainage services in Plymstock
Plymstock is a suburb of Plymouth with two council wards. City rules apply to its drains. Road flooding and sewer flooding go to different bodies, because their owners differ.
Drainage services in Liskeard
Liskeard is a Cornwall town west of the Tamar. Its drains follow Cornwall rules. Septic tanks stay with the owner, because Cornwall Council says so.
Drainage services in Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a Devon town beside the Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary. Drain ownership follows your boundary. Sewer faults matter there, because waste can reach the water nearby.
Plumbing, bathroom and boiler help by town
Some towns also have pages for plumbing, bathroom fitting and gas boilers. Boiler pages cover gas boilers only, and a Gas Safe registered engineer must do gas work. Bathroom fitting is installation work, not gas work. Pick a line below, then choose your town.
Boiler Servicing
A boiler service is a regular check of a gas boiler. Read what a visit covers, why Gas Safe registration matters and what to ask first.
Emergency Plumber
An emergency plumber deals with burst pipes, leaks and taps that will not shut. Read the first steps to take and what to ask.
Boiler Repair
Boiler repair covers faults in a gas boiler, such as no heat or no hot water. Read the safety steps, what to ask and who may do the work.
Leak Detection and Repair
Leak detection finds where water is escaping. Read the signs of a hidden leak, who looks after which pipe and what to ask first.
Bathroom Fitting
Bathroom fitting covers a new or replacement bathroom. Read what a quote should list, which rules may apply and what to ask the fitter first.
Who looks after which drain
You own the drain that serves only your home, up to your boundary. Beyond that point, the pipe is a lateral drain or a sewer. South West Water looks after those, because they lie beyond your boundary.
This changed on 1 October 2011, when water companies took over private sewers and lateral drains. However, a blockage inside your boundary is still yours to clear. If you are unsure, ask a drainage engineer to find out where the fault lies.
Our guide to the warning signs of a blocked drain helps you spot a problem early. If water is backing up now, read what to do in a drain emergency. Stay safe first, because sewage can carry germs.
Questions to ask before work starts
Prices and terms differ from one engineer to the next, so a few questions help you compare quotes. Ask about charges before you agree to a visit. Ask about the guarantee too, because it differs between jobs.
- Can I have a written quote before work starts?
- Is there a call-out charge?
- What guarantee covers the work?
- Can you tell me what caused the problem?
Ready to ask about a drain problem?
Fill in the form and say which town you are in. Mark the request urgent if water is backing up, because that shows what matters most. Then ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts.
Request a quote