Written by: J.Jackson | Published:

Drainage systems are usually hidden beneath the ground, making it difficult to understand their condition from the surface alone. A drain may appear to be working normally while still containing cracks, displaced joints, root ingress, partial blockages or other defects that could cause problems later.

This guide covers what CCTV surveys are, when they are needed, their main benefits, what they can reveal and the common mistakes to avoid when commissioning one.

What Is a CCTV Survey?

A CCTV survey replaces much of this uncertainty with recorded evidence. It helps the project team understand:

• Whether maintenance or repair work may be required
• Whether the existing drainage could affect planned construction
• Where further investigation may be necessary

When Do You Need a CCTV Survey?

A CCTV drainage survey may be needed whenever the location, condition or performance of an existing drainage system could affect a property or project.

Common situations include:

• • Before purchasing a property
  • Before an extension or redevelopment
  • When drainage problems keep returning
  • Before connecting into an existing drain
  • Before repair or maintenance work
  • As part of an insurance claim
  • During planned maintenance

Key Benefits

Insurance and Compliance

Many insurance companies require evidence of drainage issues before approving claims, and a CCTV survey provides recorded proof.

It also helps meet health and safety or environmental regulations, furthermore, utility companies will ask for CCTV Surveys beforehand if any routing is done into their services.

Recorded evidence

The camera footage creates a visual record of the drainage system at the time of the survey. A supporting report can identify observations, defects and relevant pipe information.

This evidence can be shared with designers, engineers, drainage contractors, insurers, utility providers and other members of the project team.

Better construction planning

A CCTV survey can help establish which drains connect, the direction of flow and the condition of the existing network. When combined with accurate survey positioning, this information can be added to CAD drawings and assessed alongside proposed works.

A more complete drainage record

Where survey positioning and CAD drawings are included, the final information can provide both the internal condition of the drains and their wider site context. SolidPoint deliverables include video footage, a defect report and CAD drawings showing the surveyed drainage network.

CAD drawings are not a standard deliverable for CCTV surveys - this is something that SolidPoint provides to ensure a seamless record.

How Much Does a CCTV Survey Cost?

Typically the cost can be as low as £695 + VAT for a small sized plot. This price will of course increase dependant on distance and size.

However, we offer a bundle discount if you request a CCTV Survey alongside a Utility Survey, lowering the starting price to £495 + VAT.

How They Can Reduce Costs

CCTV surveys can also identify relatively minor defects before they develop into more serious failures. Early maintenance may be considerably less disruptive than responding to a collapsed pipe, flooding incident or major blockage later.

On construction projects, accurate drainage information can help prevent proposed foundations, landscaping, roads or services from conflicting with existing pipework. Resolving these issues during design is generally easier than redesigning or diverting drainage after work has started.

Potential savings can come from:

• • Reducing the risk of drainage-related design changes
  • Avoiding accidental damage during construction
  • Supporting better repair and maintenance planning
  • Providing evidence for insurance or asset-owner discussions

A CCTV survey therefore does more than identify damage. It provides information that can help teams make better decisions about where money and resources should be spent.

What Will You Receive?

Every project is different, so deliverables vary. Below, you can find what’s included as a standard in every SolidPoint CCTV survey.

No two scopes are the same, so neither are our processes – discuss your project’s needs with our surveyors, who will put together a package that works best for you.

How to avoid this:

Provide a site plan showing the required survey boundary, known manholes and any areas of particular concern. Explain whether the survey is intended to investigate a specific issue or provide a wider record of the site.

How to avoid this:

Ask whether the drainage runs will be accurately positioned and shown on a CAD drawing - combining footage with mapped drainage information gives the findings much greater context. 

Most surveying companies do not offer this, however SolidPoint does. Learn more about deliverables here

How to avoid this:

Where excavation, piling, foundations or construction work is planned, consider commissioning a utility survey alongside the CCTV survey. The CCTV survey assesses the drains internally, while the utility survey helps locate the wider underground service network.

A CCTV drainage survey gives property owners and project teams a much clearer understanding of what is happening beneath the ground.

Rather than relying on assumptions, surface symptoms or incomplete drainage records, the survey provides visual evidence of the condition and connectivity of accessible pipework. This can help identify defects, target repairs, support design decisions and reduce the risk of unexpected drainage problems later.