DrainUK topic library

CCTV drain surveys

Understand what a camera survey can and cannot establish.

Choose your drainage question

Read the relevant guide to understand the clues, alternatives and what a contractor should investigate.

Cameras can show obstructions, displaced joints and cracks, but cannot always establish why ground has moved.

A crawler or push camera records the inside of a pipe, revealing cracks, roots, deposits and joint offsets.

One blockage may be caused by waste, while repeat restrictions can justify checking the pipe condition.

Visible openings and damaged joints can be identified, but small leaks may require other testing.

A sonde transmitter on a camera can help a receiver identify a pipe route and depth.

A useful report distinguishes the nature, position and severity of defects rather than just listing repairs.

Start with the symptom you can see, rather than assuming an underground pipe is broken.