Drain Survey Case Studies in Birmingham

The Situation

A homeowner on a tree-lined road in Edgbaston had experienced slow drainage and three blockages in 18 months. Each time, a local plumber had cleared the line with a high-pressure jetter — but the problem returned within weeks. The CCTV survey revealed why.

What the Camera Found

• Mature lime tree roots had penetrated a clay pipe joint 4.2 metres from the rear inspection chamber.
• Root mass had partially occluded the 100mm drain, reducing effective bore by approximately 60%.
• A secondary root intrusion was found in the lateral connecting to the shared drain at the rear of the terrace.

The Outcome

A no-dig pipe lining solution eliminated both root ingress points without excavating the garden. The homeowner has had no blockages in the 14 months since the repair.

The Situation

A couple were purchasing a 1930s semi-detached property in Harborne. Their solicitor recommended a homebuyer drain survey before exchange of contracts. The survey was booked within 48 hours of instruction and completed the following morning.

What the Camera Found

• A 450mm collapsed section was found in the rear garden drain, 3.1 metres from the property boundary.
• The collapse had caused partial ingress of surrounding clay soil, reducing bore to approximately 30%.
• Inspection chamber covers at the rear of the property had not been lifted during the homebuyer's survey — the defect was completely hidden.

The Outcome

The buyers used the survey report and HD footage to negotiate a £4,200 reduction in the purchase price, covering the full cost of repair and re-survey. They exchanged contracts three weeks later.

The Situation

A creative-sector business in Digbeth was experiencing intermittent flooding of a lower-ground-floor utility area during heavy rain. Initial investigations had found no obvious fault. We were commissioned to carry out a full CCTV survey of the building's drainage connection to the Victorian-era combined sewer beneath the street.

What the Camera Found

• The property's 150mm outlet pipe connected directly to a 750mm Victorian egg-shaped combined sewer under the adjacent service road.
• A displaced section of the combined sewer, approximately 12 metres from the connection point, was causing partial surcharging during storm events.
• Surcharge pressure was sufficient to back-flow into the building through the lowest drainage point — a floor gulley lacking a non-return valve.

The Outcome

The survey report was submitted to Severn Trent Water, which accepted responsibility for the displaced combined sewer and scheduled remediation works. A non-return valve was fitted to the floor gulley as an immediate interim measure. No flooding has occurred since.