CCTV drainage surveys
Section 104 Adoption CCTV Survey
A Section 104 agreement provides for eligible new drainage assets to be adopted by the sewerage company once the required conditions are met. CCTV inspection may be required as part of the testing and handover process for gravity sewers. We can help with surveys to the specification required for the site.
What a Section 104 Agreement Covers
A Section 104 agreement provides for eligible new sewers, lateral drains, pumping stations and other drainage assets to be adopted by the sewerage company once the agreement requirements have been met. It is separate from a Section 106 connection, which deals with connecting drainage to the existing public sewer network. A Section 106 connection does not by itself arrange adoption.
Adoption matters because responsibility for the adopted drainage passes to the sewerage company once the adoption process is complete. Before that point, responsibility remains under the arrangements applying to the development. Inspection and testing requirements should be confirmed from the Section 104 agreement and the sewerage company’s requirements.
Where the CCTV Survey Sits in the Programme
The timing of CCTV work depends on the agreement, construction programme and sewerage company’s requirements. Surveys may be used during construction, before an adoption inspection, after remedial work or during the maintenance period. The required stages should be confirmed for the particular site rather than assumed.
On phased sites, drainage can be surveyed in sections to suit the construction programme. Cleaning or flow management may be needed where deposits or live flows prevent a clear inspection. Where confined-space entry is required, the work must follow the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997.
Design and Construction Guidance in England
In England, the current sewerage adoption arrangements took effect in April 2020. The Design and Construction Guidance sets requirements for drainage intended for adoption, including construction, inspection and testing. The survey specification should also reflect any permitted local practices or additional requirements of the relevant sewerage company.
The England adoption guidance does not apply UK-wide. For sites elsewhere in the UK, the requirements of the relevant drainage authority or sewerage provider should be confirmed before the survey is specified.
Approved Document H also provides statutory guidance for drainage and waste disposal in England. It is separate from the sewerage adoption guidance.
MSCC5 Coding and Survey Requirements
MSCC5 is the current edition of the Manual of Sewer Condition Classification used for CCTV sewer condition inspection in the UK water industry. It provides standard terminology and codes for recording observations and defects.
Not every survey is graded. Whether a survey is coded to MSCC5 depends on the project specification and the sewerage company’s requirements. A visual record without the required coding or reporting may not be accepted for adoption purposes, so the specification should be confirmed before the survey is booked.
CCTV shows the visible internal surfaces of the pipe. It cannot see through deposits, and it cannot detect every defect, particularly where the pipe is partially full or where the camera cannot pass. A survey report is a record of what was visible at the time, not a guarantee that no other defects exist.
Defects an Adoption Survey May Identify
CCTV inspection may identify debris, silt, joint defects, cracks, deformation, infiltration or problems at connections. Whether an observation requires remedial work depends on the agreed adoption standard and the sewerage company’s assessment.
If root ingress is found, the survey can record its location and extent. See our root ingress drain survey page for more detail on how roots appear on CCTV and what further work may be considered.
A pre-adoption survey can identify visible issues before the adoption inspection, giving the project team an opportunity to consider any required remedial work before the process moves forward.
What the Survey Involves
A CCTV survey uses a camera mounted on a flexible rod or crawler, pushed or driven through the pipe from an access point. The camera records the internal condition, and the surveyor notes the location and nature of any defects. Depth, pipe size and material are recorded where they can be confirmed. Flow conditions may affect what can be seen, so cleaning or flow control may be needed.
We can help with pre-adoption CCTV surveys, defects-period surveys and final adoption surveys. We can also help with drain mapping where a plan of the drainage is needed, and with drain dye testing to confirm connections. For sites with multiple phases, the survey scope can be planned around the construction programme.
Access requirements should be checked before the visit. Chambers may need to be cleared, and safe access arranged. A drain survey access requirements page sets out what is typically needed.
Report Contents and What They Show
Report contents depend on the agreed specification. These may include drainage references, still images, survey footage, chainage and condition codes where required. For adoption work, the required format should be confirmed before the survey is carried out.
Programme and Pricing
Survey pricing depends on the scope, including the drainage to be inspected, access, any cleaning requirements and the reporting or coding required. Phased sites may also require more than one visit. Send us the site details and required specification so the work can be quoted.
For developers and groundworkers, confirm the sewerage company’s survey specification and site access requirements before booking the work. We can help arrange the required survey. To discuss a site, use the quote request page or contact us directly.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a Section 104 agreement the same as a Section 106 connection?
No. A Section 104 agreement deals with the adoption of new sewers and pumping stations by the water company. A Section 106 connection deals with connecting a development to the existing public sewer network. They are separate processes and may be handled at different stages of a project.
Does a CCTV survey have to be coded to MSCC5 for adoption?
The required coding and report format should be confirmed with the relevant sewerage company or project specification before the survey is booked. MSCC5 is the current UK water-industry standard for CCTV sewer condition classification, but the adoption requirements for the site should not be assumed.
What happens if the adoption survey finds defects?
The survey records the visible defects so any required remedial work can be considered before adoption. Findings can include debris, joint defects, deformation, root ingress and problems at connections. What needs to be corrected depends on the adoption requirements for the site.
Can you survey a sewer that is already in use?
A sewer that is already in use can often be surveyed, but flow conditions may limit what can be seen. Cleaning or flow management may be needed, and the access arrangements should be checked before the survey is booked.
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