Do you suspect you have a drain problem, but you’re not sure where in the pipework it is? Are you thinking of purchasing a property and want to know the state of your drainage system before you buy? Do you plan to build an extension onto your home, or a new structure altogether? A professionally conducted CCTV drainage survey can provide answers, assurance, and essential details in situations such as these and more.

Here at Premier Drainage Solutions, we understand the stress that can come with dealing with the unknown. This is why we advise having a CCTV survey to properly analyse your drainage network, investigate any sewer connections you are planning on working with, and to identify problems in your pipework.

If you’re new to this service and you’re unsure of what it entails or the benefits it offers, then this guide is here to help.

What is a CCTV drainage survey?

A CCTV drainage survey is a no-dig service that investigates and evaluates your underground drain system. They work by feeding a specially designed camera down the drain to carry out an inspection. The camera sends live footage to a screen above ground, allowing our engineers to examine the drain and accompanying data. Based on the data recorded, the engineer will provide feedback on any problems found and make clear recommendations on how to solve them.

What can a CCTV drainage survey tell me?

A CCTV drain inspection survey can identify a wide range of key drainage issues, along with gathering general details about how your pipe network is looking. Here are some of the problems a professional, no-dig survey can find:

• Blockages and leaks
• Displaced joints
• Minor and major tree root ingress
• Corrosion
• Cracked and collapsed drains
• Scale build-up
• Signs of poor insulation or displacement
• Wear and tear

CCTV drainage surveys allow data to be gathered safely and conveniently without excavation. They can be used to investigate drain and sewer problems, such as blockages, poor flow rates and pollution incidents, or to support construction projects by identifying and evaluating drain connections to meet regulatory controls.

CCTV surveys can also be used for pre-adoption inspections where building contractors demonstrate the condition of drainage assets before they are handed over to clients.

Different uses of CCTV drainage surveys

Let’s look in more detail at some of the most common purposes for which a CCTV drain survey can be used.

Reactive diagnosis and troubleshooting

If you already know or suspect something is wrong, then our cameras can be used to find the cause of pipe blockages or damage, allowing us to assess the best way to move forward. Before and after footage can also be recorded as evidence that the work has been carried out and the pipe is clear and in good condition.

Asset monitoring and management

A CCTV survey can be used as part of routine maintenance or quick looks on-site. We can conduct fast and simple drain and sewer inspections for urgent projects or asset condition surveys in place of a full, slightly more time-consuming survey.

Pre-purchase and planning surveys

Before committing to a property purchase or starting a construction project, a CCTV drain survey can be used as a risk-management tool. It is a formal assessment, designed to meet the requirements of mortgage lenders and local planning authorities, and it offers critical details for build-over agreements.

How can a CCTV survey help me with drainage problems?

A CCTV drain inspection helps with drainage problems by providing you with clear and accurate causes for said problems. If the CCTV drainage survey report shows defects, your drainage company will be able to help you find the right solution with the findings. For example, the Premier Drainage Solutions team can carry out a pipe lining service using either a localised patch repair or the entire length of the pipe to the public sewer, after undertaking a survey. This service creates a pipe within the pipe, meaning an expensive and time-consuming excavation wouldn’t be required.

CCTV footage of the re-lining can then be submitted with an indirect application to the local water authority, such as Thames Water, Anglian Water, or Southern Water, if necessary. This is because water authorities won’t simply take your word for it that a pipe is in good condition.

What does a CCTV drain survey involve?

A professionally conducted CCTV drainage survey involves a number of steps to ensure accurate results. Here’s how our engineers carry out the full Premier Drainage Solution drain inspection:

1. Initial consultation – First, we listen to your request or concerns over the phone. We review this information and provide you with a solution and quote for you to consider.
2. On-site prep – The on-site service begins with preparation, including a minor jetting service to remove light blockages that may obstruct or interfere with our cameras, if necessary. This service is free if the blockage severity isn’t significant.
3. CCTV inspection – Using high-resolution cameras fed into your drainage network via an access point, we inspect your pipes and analyse the live footage on a screen. Our engineers will look for damage, heavy blockages, misalignments, and other issues.
4. Report – Using the recorded footage, we produce a report of our findings and the drain’s condition for you, along with our recommendations for next steps.

Our CCTV drain inspection equipment

The expert Premier Drainage Solutions engineers use a range of industry-leading equipment and CCTV technology to conduct drain surveys, including:

• On-board, purpose-built viewing areas in our vehicles from which the operator has full control of the camera equipment.
• Jetting units for cleaning and clearing blockages, such as debris and silt, from your pipes.
• High-resolution push-rod cameras with reel lengths including 60 metres for standard lines and 100 metres for Victorian sewers.
• WRC approved reporting software for accurate data collection and digital reports showing pipe lengths, flow direction, flow rates, pipe falls, and any defect locations.

CCTV drainage survey reports

We are committed to providing you with a clear and accurate report alongside our expert recommendations, helping you decide the next steps. Using WRC-approved software for drain and sewer inspections, we produce a detailed drainage report, alongside supplying the survey’s recorded footage on a USB. The data in our reports and footage can be easily understood and analysed, then incorporated into any necessary work planning.

Why choose us for your CCTV drainage survey? 

CCTV surveys are an essential part of diagnosing drainage problems so that they can be fixed as soon as possible, as well as maintenance, monitoring, and legal assessment. Here at Premier Drainage Solutions, we have over 50 years of experience working with drain and sewer systems and are highly qualified and equipped to carry out CCTV camera drain inspections and survey services.

Our CCTV service includes:

• Fully qualified camera technicians to carry out the survey.
• Analysis from the latest WRC-approved software.
• Detailed CCTV drain survey reports and maintenance recommendations.
• DVD footage for your records.

If you’d like to talk about whether a CCTV drainage survey is right for your problem or project, or if you’re ready to know more about getting a survey carried out, contact us on 01268 950050 or email [email protected].