England now pays to drink double their own Excrement in year

Most homes in the UK send water from a gutter drain to a sewer system operated by a water company. But, to get there, the surface water has to first leave your guttering. When rainwater exits your downpipe, it should enter a gully. This is nearly always level with the ground. Most gullies used in the UK are manufactured with a bend. You may not know this, because the bend is out of sight. It is buried below ground. This is simply to prevent odours. Modern gullies are made from PVC. However, in older properties, you may find a gully manufactured from a type of clay.

Gullies have different profiles, depending on their drainage function. For example, a back-inlet gully will allow a downpipe to discharge rainwater below the ground level. Some homes may have a French drain. This is a method used by some building contractors to transfer surface water into the garden. However, we do not recommend you connect a downpipe to one of these drains unless it is well away from your home. This will require the installation of underground pipes. To check whether you have a French drain, look for signs of a gravel-filled trench. And never undertake any work without ensuring you have the necessary consent.

The collection and processing of most rainwater is the responsibility of water companies, once it has safely exited your gutter system. Nationally, the cost of dealing with domestic surface water is more than £1billion a year – cash recouped through water bills. If you are not sure if your surface water ends up in a public drainage system, check your bill. It should state whether or not you are being charged for surface water drainage. If you can’t see it specifically mentioned, take the time to find out what the sewer or standing charge includes. Properties that use a soakaway system, for example, should not have to pay this additional charge - and homeowners not sending surface water to a sewer are entitled to claim a rebate. Visit your local water company’s website to see what you may be entitled to claim back.

Private surface water systems can be found in some properties, especially older homes and those in rural or remote locations. In these cases, rainwater is collected by the gutter system, sent to the downpipe, then a gully and most often onto a soakaway. There are restrictions on where soakaways can be installed, because they can allow contaminants to penetrate the groundwater table.