Bromsgrove residents who think they might have a private water pumping station somewhere on their property are being asked to get in touch with Severn Trent Water, so the company can take over responsibility for maintaining it.
Due to a change in Government legislation from October of next year, private water companies like Severn Trent will begin owning and maintaining pumping stations, which may well prove a relief for some residents who find them a costly responsibility.
Sam Oliver, spokesperson for Severn Trent Water, said: “October 2016 is just under a year away, but we think there are still many pumping stations across the Severn Trent region which will become our responsibility that we have not yet found.
“The pumping stations, which could be in our customers’ back gardens or on land adjacent to their homes, help to pump waste from their home to the local sewage treatment works.
“These stations vary in shape and size - they could be as small as a manhole cover or as big as an outhouse at the bottom of a garden. Customers will know if they have one as they will generally be paying for the electricity and a maintenance contract. We would like our customers to contact us and tell us if they have one so that we can understand if it needs transferring and if so, plan to start maintaining it for them in 2016.”
Several years ago in 2011 Severn Trent took ownership of its customers’ private drains and sewers, and this is set to be the next step for the industry.
Sam added: “We would really encourage people to ‘hand over’ their pumping station so that we can maintain it for them. The transfer of private drains, sewers and pumping stations is a positive for everyone – it means that if anyone has a blocked or collapsed drain or sewer, it’s now clearer who is responsible for repairs. In addition, from October 2016, we will run and maintain the pumping stations if they meet the criteria for transfer.”
To ‘hand over’ a pumping station, visit the company’s website at stwater.co.uk and fill in the online questionnaire, or call 0800 7834444.
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