Surface water sewer
In plumbing
In a separate system, the sewer that carries rainwater from roofs, roads and paving, usually straight to a river or stream without treatment. Foul water must never be connected to it, and nothing but rain should go into its gullies.
Using Surface water sewer in a plumbing system
Updated
A distinction worth remembering
Check that the gutter falls towards its outlet, that the downpipe is big enough for the outlet feeding it, and where the water goes at the bottom. Overflow, drips and stains on the wall show which of those has failed.
Questions to take further
- Should my downpipe go into the sewer?
- In England the order of preference is to let rainwater soak into the ground, then send it to a watercourse, and only then to a sewer. In an area with separate sewers, rainwater never goes into the foul one.
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.
- HSE: ladders and stepladders — When a ladder is a reasonable choice for work at height in Great Britain, and how to use one safely.
Where Surface water sewer fits in the learning path
The Rainwater, Maintenance and Environmental Protection section covers these topics:
- Rainwater Gutters and Downpipes
- Water Efficiency and Reuse
- Maintenance and Environmental Protection
Read, practise, return
1. Read it in context
- Rainwater Gutters and DownpipesRainwater, Maintenance and Environmental Protection
- Maintenance and Environmental ProtectionRainwater, Maintenance and Environmental Protection
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
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A sewer that carries foul water and rainwater together to the treatment works. Many older areas have them. In England's guidance, a rainwater pipe discharging into a combined system does so through a trap so that sewer air stays out.
Combined sewer
Read the Combined sewer entryCompare related terms
Open a meaning to compare its role with Surface water sewer, or follow its full entry.
Combined sewer
A sewer that carries foul water and rainwater together to the treatment works. Many older areas have them. In England's guidance, a rainwater pipe discharging into a combined system does so through a trap so that sewer air stays out.
Read the Combined sewer entryMisconnection
A foul water pipe wrongly joined to a surface water drain, or the other way round. A washing machine or sink joined to a rainwater downpipe is a common example: the dirty water runs untreated to a river or stream instead of to a treatment works.
Read the Misconnection 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.