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Call 07824 757572Region-specific guidance on water suppliers, responsibility, building regulations and drain ownership — sourced from Ofwat, Defra, the Planning Portal and Anglian Water.
Anglian Water is the water and sewerage undertaker for Norfolk, regulated by Ofwat (the economic regulator), the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) for water quality and Defra for policy.
Their main customer line is 03457 145 145.
Source: dwi.gov.uk
Anglian Water is the statutory sewerage undertaker for Norfolk, regulated by Ofwat under the Water Industry Act 1991.
They maintain public sewers and lateral drains beyond your property boundary; everything inside the boundary is the homeowner's or landlord's responsibility. Rural Norfolk has a high concentration of off-mains drainage (septic tanks and package treatment plants), which sit outside Anglian Water's remit — those are regulated by the Environment Agency under the General Binding Rules. Citizens Advice publishes the canonical consumer-facing summary of who owns what.
Source: citizensadvice.org.uk
Drain repairs in Norfolk must comply with Building Regulations Approved Document Part H, enforced locally by Building Control at Norwich City Council, North Norfolk, Broadland, South Norfolk, Breckland, Great Yarmouth or King's Lynn & West Norfolk councils.
Related services: drain repair services
Replacing a damaged section of pipe rarely needs a full application, but a building notice may be needed where a drain is re-routed, deepened, or where its connection to a public sewer changes. Off-mains installations (septic tanks, treatment plants) carry separate Environment Agency obligations.
Source: planningportal.co.uk
Less widespread than in the major conurbations, but present.
Related services: drain repairs · CCTV drain survey
Norfolk's post-war housing was driven mainly by Norwich's overspill estates (Heartsease, Mile Cross extensions), King's Lynn's expansion under the 1962 town plan, and scattered village infill — these mid-1950s to early-1970s phases are where pitch fibre tends to show up. The county's large stock of pre-war cottages and inter-war semis predates the material; rural off-mains properties on septic systems sidestep it entirely. If a property built between 1955 and 1975 has a drain that re-blocks soon after jetting, pitch fibre is the most likely cause. A CCTV survey confirms it; re-rounding plus a structural liner is the standard repair, or excavation where the run has sagged.
Source: sava.co.uk
Read more on our blog: /blog/do-you-have-pitch-fibre-pipes/
Anglian Water requires a build-over agreement before constructing within 3m of a public sewer; planning consent on its own does not grant permission to build over or near one.
Related services: CCTV drain survey
Apply via Anglian Water's InFlow portal before excavation. The initial consultation fee is £156 + VAT, with a response normally within 5 working days; a full agreement is more involved and runs longer. A CCTV pre-survey is usually a condition of approval — Norfolk's flat, low-lying topography means many sewers run at shallow depth, so verify location before any extension footings go in.
Source: anglianwater.co.uk
Last verified 25 May 2026.
A shower at a property in Holt (NR25) was draining extremely slowly, leaving water to pool during use and creating a risk of overflow.
The shower now drains freely and can be returned to normal use without risk of standing water.
The customer in Diss reported concerns about drainage performance, with water observed holding within the manhole channel rather than running away cleanly.
The cause of the issue at the Diss property was identified and explained clearly.
A care home in Dereham reported multiple toilets backing up and not flushing across one wing of the building.
The pumping station was restored to full operation.
Internal Sani-flow unit backed up and failing to pump waste away.
Pump operation restored and internal appliances working correctly on completion.
The customer reported a blocked gully that was not draining correctly.
The blockage was successfully cleared.
A property in IP14 was experiencing recurring foul drainage issues. Slow wastewater movement suggested a deeper obstruction or condition problem further along the private foul line.
The survey confirmed the root cause of the recurring issues and highlighted a potential future failure risk. Addressing the defect now reduces the chance of foul wastewater backing up into the property.