Lateral drain
In plumbing
The part of a property's own drain that lies outside its boundary, typically under a pavement or road on its way to the public sewer. In England and Wales most lateral drains passed to the sewerage companies in October 2011; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
Using Lateral drain in a plumbing system
Updated
A distinction worth remembering
One slow outlet points to its own trap or branch, every outlet in the house points to the stack foot or the drain, and neighbours affected as well points to a shared sewer. Clear what is local and hand the rest on.
Questions to take further
- Who is responsible for a blocked drain outside my house?
- In England and Wales the owner looks after the drain serving only their property inside the boundary, and since October 2011 the sewerage company has looked after most lateral drains and shared sewers. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Approved Document H — Guidance for England on above-ground drainage, traps, venting, access and rainwater disposal; guidance is not itself the legislation.
Where Lateral drain fits in the learning path
The Above-Ground Sanitation and Drainage section covers these topics:
- Sanitary Appliances and Traps
- Waste and Soil Pipework
- Blockages, Drains and Sewers
Read, practise, return
1. Read it in context
- Blockages, Drains and SewersAbove-Ground Sanitation and Drainage
2. Try recalling, then explore practice
Use the memory prompt below to connect the vocabulary.
3. Return to the meaning
After reading or practising, explain the idea in your own words, then check what you remembered.
Recall a related term
Which term fits this definition? Say it to yourself, then reveal it. This is a memory prompt, with no score or saved result.
A sewer owned and looked after by a water and sewerage company. A pipe becomes a sewer once it carries flow from more than one property. A blockage in a public sewer is the company's to clear, so a problem shared with neighbours is reported to it rather than tackled alone.
Public sewer
Read the Public sewer entryCompare related terms
Open a meaning to compare its role with Lateral drain, or follow its full entry.
Public sewer
A sewer owned and looked after by a water and sewerage company. A pipe becomes a sewer once it carries flow from more than one property. A blockage in a public sewer is the company's to clear, so a problem shared with neighbours is reported to it rather than tackled alone.
Read the Public sewer entryBefore you start: some plumbing work is regulated or notifiable
Some water fittings work needs notice to, and consent from, the water supplier before it starts. Check the rules where you live.
Gas work is for competent workers covered by a Gas Safe registered business in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate gas regulations. Do not work on gas pipes or appliances yourself.
In England, installing an unvented hot-water system over 15 litres is notifiable building work: use a competent installer registered with a competent-person scheme, or tell building control before work starts. Leave this work to a suitably skilled person.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own water and building rules; check which apply before work starts. Electrical connections belong with an electrician.
This guide does not qualify you or make you competent, approved or registered for plumbing, gas or unvented work.
A definition is a start. Using it in a real question is where it sticks.