COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 08, 2010

QUESTION NO.4

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager to detail the number of reports of private combined sewer blockages logged by the council in each of 2008 & 2009 and to ask if this council will recommence a non-emergency drain clearance service for blockages in private combined drains?

REPLY:

The Council's Drainage Maintenance Section discontinued the provision of the non emergency service of unblocking private combined drains in April 2009.  Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 clearly places the duty of care of the maintenance and upkeep of these combined drains on the householders concerned.

In some instances, it was practice for the Council to carry out works on behlaf of householders served by the combined drain. Due to the economic environment and the resultant re-prioritisation of works, it was necessary for the Council to discontinue this service in favour of focussing Council resources on the maintenance of the public networks. The Council will continue to prioritise maintenance of the public networks. 

321 private combined drains were unblocked in 2008.  In 2009, when the service was discontinnued, the Council had unblocked 188 private combined drains.