Living in a large city like London has its fair share of problems. The traffic noise and the hubbub of the big city are not to everyone’s liking.

There is a problem in big cities that people face in that needs prompt action – blocked drainage. Because the sewer systems in cites like London work to near capacity, they can quickly become blocked. Blockages caused by solidified fats, non-disposable items and collapses are commonplace in London.

At the first sign of blocked drainage in London, you need to call a drainage engineer who will visit your home and assess the problem. If you leave a drain blockage, the likelihood is the problem will only get worse and cause further problems, such as sewage entering your home.

Drainage experts in London have all the necessary tools at their disposal to unblock your drains, as the waste can flow freely again. Some of the services they provide include:

• Drain jetting
• CCTV surveys
• Root cutting
• Drain lining
• Replacement of damaged sections of drain
• Descaling of pipes

Many drainage problems are caused by the infiltration of roots into the drainage system. Roots from trees and plants often work their way into the drainage system through small cracks and the joints between pipe sections. When they find a source of water, they quickly multiply and completely block the diameter of a section of drainage pipe.

Roots that have found their way into drainage pipes must be removed before the pipe can work correctly again. Drainage engineers can do this using specialist equipment. A rotating root cutter is sent into the drainage pipe that is the same diameter of the pipe. The rotating cutter is attached to a long rod that can be pushed along the length of the pipe and thus cuts any roots it finds. The drain can then be jetted to remove the discarded roots.

It is common after root removal that a CCTV survey of the pipe must be undertaken to inspect how the roots entered the drainage network. If a section of the pipe is found to be damaged, the pipe can be fitted with a liner that can cover the gaps or cracks that may exist. The pipe can then be used again to carry the waste water and solids from your home.

Waste water engineers in Keswick are holding an exhibition at the local Moot Hall to show residents plans of £20million sewer upgrade.

The upgrade to Keswick’s waste water system will see sewage pipes connecting the local treatment works increase in diameter, a new pumping station built and a new waste water storm tank built underground in Rawnsley Hall car park. Other works will see many of the towns aged sewer pipes replaced.

United Utilities, who are undertaking the drainage improvement works, say that the quality of the water in Bassenthwaite Lake will also improve after discharges into the river Derwent and river Greta will be more closely monitored and improved so phosphorous levels in the water will be reduced.

Geoff Durkin, Untied utilities project manager stated:

“This is an essential scheme for Keswick.

“Not only will it improve the environment in and around beautiful Bassenthwaite Lake, which is a uniquely important environment, it will also help prevent flooding from United Utilities’ sewers in the Greta Grove area.

“We are committed to keeping people informed of our progress and seeing what they think. Please come along and see us. You don’t need to make an appointment.”

Work in the town centre will take place after the Christmas tourist rush to avoid congestion issues.

Heavy rain and a collapsed sewerage pipe have caused problems for Blackpool residents this week.
The problems started on Saturday evening when water started to flood over the pavement on St Johns Avenue in Pilling. The situation quickly worsened with raw sewage creating ‘ponds’ in people’s gardens.

The problem seems to have stemmed from a collapsed sewer in a nearby street and United Utilities are currently looking at the problem. They have so far pumped sewerage into collection tankers and are installing a bypass pipe which will enable them to repair the collapse.

A United Utilities spokesperson stated:

“We are sorry to people in Pilling that have experienced the flooding. There has been a collapsed sewer on School Lane.

“We are working hard to fix the problem. A temporary sewer pipe has been installed to act as a by-pass but the heavy rain has led to a lot of soil going in the pipe which is causing blockages.”

The problem has been forcing residents to stay indoors so it’s hoped that the water company will fix the problem quickly.

If you notice that your drains are not taking water away as efficiently as they should it’s always advisable to get in touch with a drainage company who will be able to solve the problem for you.

Many drainage problems are caused by blockages in the drain and can be solved easily by drain jetting. But what happens when a drainage company jet your drain, but the problem still exists?

Perhaps the next course of action for a drainage company after drain jetting, is for the drainage company to perform a CCTV survey of the drain. Using a flexible rod with a camera attachment the drainage engineer can look into your drainage pipe in real time. And can then diagnose the blockage issue.

Common causes of drain blockage that cannot be removed by drain jetting include:

• Root intrusion in the pipe
• A clog/item in the drain that cannot be removed by jetting because it is jammed
• Drain collapse
• A drain that is severely scaled

All these issues can be dealt with by a drainage company as they have many methods to remove a blockage or repair a pipe. Roots can be removed using a spinning root cutter and then the pipe relined, a jammed item or a drain collapse may require excavation to replace the damaged section of drain or remove the jammed item. And a drain that is severely scaled can be descaled using specialist descaling equipment.