CCTV Drain Surveys | CCTV Camera Drain Inspection

Buried pipework is easy to forget about until something goes wrong. When drains back up or manholes start to overflow, guessing what’s happening underground can waste time and money.

At Telcoss, we use CCTV / camera surveys to give you a clear view inside your drains and sewers without digging. Our specialist cameras, jetting units and experienced engineers work together to clean, inspect and report on your network so you can make decisions based on facts, not assumptions.

What is a CCTV drain survey?

A CCTV drain survey (or drain camera survey) is a detailed inspection of your underground pipework using purpose-built cameras.

The camera is pushed or driven through the pipe and sends back live video. This allows us to see:

Cracks, fractures and collapsed sections
Root intrusion and displaced joints
Fat, scale and debris build-up
Corrosion, wear and other structural issues
Connections, junctions and unknown links

Everything we see is recorded, so you have a permanent visual record of the condition of your drains and sewers.

When should you use CCTV / camera surveys?

Camera surveys are useful whenever you need a reliable picture of what’s happening inside your drainage system. Typical reasons include:

Recurring blockages or flooding in the same location
Signs of subsidence or ground movement above buried pipes
Planning lining, patch repairs or full replacements
Pre- and post-construction checks around new work
Asset mapping for site purchases, sales or handovers
Demonstrating due diligence to regulators, insurers or landlords

Instead of digging multiple trial holes, a CCTV survey pinpoints the problem and shows its exact nature.

What can we survey?

Our CCTV / camera surveys cover a wide range of underground assets, including:

Foul and surface water drains on industrial sites
Private and on-site sewers
Culverts and larger diameter pipeline sections
Process and trade effluent lines
Manholes, chambers and associated structures

Because CCTV surveys sit alongside our drainage & sewers and high pressure jet washing services, we can extend inspections into connected areas where it makes sense – for example, surveying pipework that feeds a key tank, wet well or pumping station.

Telcoss, taking care of you

Need a CCTV / camera survey on your site?

If you’re dealing with repeated blockages, planning major works or simply want to understand the condition of your drains and sewers, we can help.

Get in touch with Telcoss to discuss your CCTV / camera survey requirements and we’ll design a safe, efficient survey that gives you the clear information you need to keep your systems flowing and your site operating with confidence.

How our CCTV survey service works

We tailor each survey to your site and objectives, but the process usually follows four simple stages.

1. Survey planning
• We discuss what you want to achieve – for example, to investigate a fault, map the system or assess overall condition.
• Existing plans are reviewed (if available) so we can plan entry points, lengths and access.

2. Cleaning for a clear view
• Reduce standing water where possible
• Ensure the camera can travel smoothly through the pipe

By cleaning and surveying in one visit, we save you the hassle of arranging multiple contractors.

3. Camera inspection
We select the right equipment for the job – push-rod cameras for smaller pipes, crawler units for larger sewers and culverts. As we work through the system, our engineers:

• Record continuous video
• Log distances and manhole references
• Mark the position of any defects or features
• Capture still images where useful

You can review footage with us on site or as part of the final reporting pack.

4. Reporting and recommendations
After the survey, we provide:
• Video files for the sections inspected
• A structured written report
• Clear descriptions and locations of any defects or restrictions
• Practical recommendations for cleaning, repair or further investigation

The aim is to give you information that is easy to understand and straightforward to act on.

Benefits of CCTV / camera surveys with Telcoss

Accurate, non-destructive diagnosis
Most issues can be identified and located without excavation, reducing disruption and reinstatement costs.

Targeted repairs and investment
Knowing exactly what is wrong and where it is allows you to choose the right solution – from simple cleaning to patch lining or full replacement.

Better asset knowledge
Survey information builds a long-term record of your drainage infrastructure, supporting maintenance planning, risk assessments and future projects.

Integrated approach
We can clean, inspect and remove waste in one coordinated operation, with a single team responsible for the whole job. That keeps things simpler for you and reduces downtime.

Industrial-focused service
Our teams work daily on complex industrial sites, so we understand the constraints of live operations, safety-critical areas and tight shutdown windows.

Who our CCTV / camera surveys are for

Telcoss provides CCTV surveys for:

• Manufacturing and processing facilities
• Power, energy and utilities
• Ports, terminals and logistics sites
• Construction and redevelopment projects
• Local authorities and asset managers

Whether you need a one-off investigation or a programme of surveys across multiple locations, we can scale our service to suit.