The UK's independent private drainage resource.

Private Drainage UK exists because private drainage is genuinely confusing, and most people only think about it once something has gone wrong. Septic tanks, sewage treatment plants and cesspits sit outside the everyday experience of most homeowners — the rules changed significantly in 2020, costs vary enormously by site, and the businesses that install and repair these systems don't always have the time or incentive to explain the bigger picture.

We set out to build the resource we felt was missing: clear, independent guidance on how private drainage systems work, what the regulations actually require, and what a fair process — and a fair cost — looks like. Where readers need hands-on help, we connect them with an appropriate independent specialist operating in their area.

What we are

• An independent information resource on septic tanks, treatment plants and off-mains drainage
• A specialist-matching service connecting homeowners with independent drainage professionals

What we're not

• We do not employ drainage engineers or installers
• We do not carry out installation, repair, survey or emptying work ourselves
• We are not a call centre reselling leads to the highest bidder — see our specialist network

For full transparency on how the business works, see how it works, how we make money and our editorial policy.