CCTV drainage surveys
CCTV drain surveys examine accessible drainage pipework for property purchases, building work and investigations into drainage problems. A camera inspection records the visible internal condition of accessible pipework. The useful starting point is the decision the survey needs to support, because a homebuyer enquiry, a recurring blockage and a development requirement can need different coverage and reporting.
Complete the form and we will get back to you.
Our services
Pre purchase drain survey for home buyers, covering accessible drainage, common findings such as pitch fibre deterioration and root ingress, and how the report can inform questions before exchange.
View details
CCTV surveys for build over agreement applications, with the scope and reporting agreed to the relevant sewerage company's requirements.
View details
CCTV surveys for Section 104 sewer adoption, with reporting and coding to the agreed specification for development sites.
View details
Drain mapping surveys that record runs, manholes and levels, producing plans and schedules for design, maintenance and asset records.
View details
Drain dye testing traces pipe connectivity and outfalls, helping identify misconnections, cross-connections and pollution risks on residential and commercial drainage.
View details
Sewer CCTV surveys for condition assessment, rehabilitation planning and adoption records, with reporting to the agreed specification.
View detailsFor a property purchase, the question may concern the accessible drainage serving the property and any findings requiring further investigation. For a recurring problem, the priority may be the route affected by the symptoms. Building work can require information about the location, condition or connections of drainage near the proposal.
Identify who will use the report and whether a particular specification applies. An application-related survey should address the requirements of the relevant organisation. A camera recording by itself does not establish that every required run, measurement or reporting element has been included.
The inspection can show visible internal features such as joints, connections, changes in pipe material and deposits or defects within view. The result depends on access, pipe conditions and the distance the camera can travel. Standing water or deposits can obscure surfaces.
A useful record distinguishes observed findings from sections that were not adequately viewed. A camera cannot establish the condition of an inaccessible run or every feature outside the pipe wall. If preparation or further investigation is needed, the report should connect that recommendation to the specific limitation.
Internal condition footage does not automatically provide a complete drainage map. Mapping, levels and connectivity investigations can require additional work. Explain whether the decision needs a condition record, a plan, confirmation of a connection or a combination of these outputs.
Existing drainage drawings can help establish an initial scope, but their accuracy needs to be considered. A report is clearer when it identifies the surveyed access points and runs consistently, allowing the reader to connect each finding with the relevant part of the system.
The agreed deliverables should identify the surveyed extent, relevant observations and any limitations. Where formal coding or a receiving-party specification is required, that requirement needs to be established when the survey is arranged. Avoid assuming that all survey packages contain the same outputs.
Condition findings, their significance and a proposed repair are separate steps. A visible defect can inform further assessment, but the appropriate response depends on its location, extent and the purpose of the investigation. Keep the evidence available so the next decision can be traced to the survey result.
Include the property or site location, reason for the survey and available access details. Existing plans, earlier reports and a description of recurring symptoms can help define the work. State any application deadline or recipient requirements so they can be considered alongside the scope.
A homebuyer survey may concentrate on the accessible drainage serving a property, while a build-over investigation can require more precise information about the position and condition of drainage affected by proposed work. Mapping and connectivity investigations address different questions from internal condition recording. The agreed scope should reflect the particular decision and identify any information that remains unresolved.
Free online tool
Check what to ask your sewerage company before building near a drain or sewer.
Drain CCTV is a UK-wide CCTV drain survey service. We take enquiries from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, not from a single town or region, and our office is in Blackburn, Lancashire. The business is registered in England and Wales under company number 10091071.
Ian Bennett and Mark Lynch are environmental consultants who can speak on our behalf about our environmental services. Martyn is our technical spokesperson, with particular knowledge of tank cleaning, septic tanks and drainage.
Common questions
Only the agreed and accessible extent can be inspected. The report should identify the runs surveyed and any restrictions, rather than imply that inaccessible drainage has been assessed.
No. A camera survey records visible internal condition. Mapping identifies the layout and may require additional locating or measurement work. The required outputs should be specified together where both are needed.
Guides and information
A plain guide to Thames Water build over agreements, covering when consent is needed, pipe and manhole rules, and the survey evidence that supports an application.
View detailsIndependent guide to Severn Trent build over approval, including formal agreements, self-certification and CCTV survey requirements.
View detailsWhat drives CCTV drain survey cost, why quotes differ, and how to compare survey prices and reports.
View detailsComplete the form and we will get back to you.
A blocked drain can cross into neighbouring land without automatically becoming the sewerage company's responsibility. Learn how pipe classification, shared connections and physical investigation affect the decision.
Read article: Who Investigates a Blocked Drain That Crosses a Property Boundary?When multiple commercial buildings experience drainage problems, a targeted inspection may be enough. Learn when shared connections, missing plans or wider maintenance needs justify a full-site survey.
Read article: Several Buildings Have Drainage Problems: Do You Need a Full-Site Survey?Rats returning after pest control may be using an unresolved drainage entry route. Learn when CCTV investigation is worthwhile, what it can establish and how the findings affect the next decision.
Read article: Rats Keep Returning After Pest Control: Should You Check the Drains?
