HELP - poo coming out of rainwater drain

[revjames]

I recently cleared all the rainwater drains around my house - 7 in all as a lot of them had been neglected by previous owners and were full of rubbish. I also used a pressure washer and most of the drains now run freely. One of them round the back was not so easy. It refused to clear. I put the high pressure hose attachement ( the sort with reverse direction jets and one forward facing one) down and still the level just kept rising. In the end, I just stuck an old mop down it and just vigorously pumped it. It seemed to clear. I came home from work tonight and the drain is now full to the brim with poo!This drain is about 6' from main soil stack.

Any ideas?

 

[rapparee]

You have busted the wavin pipes and have now cross contamination between the drain water and sewage water. You'll probably have to get the professionals out to put a camera down to find the break.

 

[Andy™]

pipe blocked somewhere. have you looked in any of the manholes? id guess either the outlet from a manhole is blocked, or the soil stack and the drain share a pipe going to manhole which is blocked

 

[Tony S]

Do you have two drains, foul and  surface water? My first house the previous owner had diverted the bog in to the surface water drain.

 

[revjames]

Thanks, never heard of wavin pipes. House is circa 1920's would it be combined drains?

Do you have two drains, foul and  surface water? My first house the previous owner had diverted the bog in to the surface water drain.

not sure. there is only one manhole on the property and that seems to have only rainwater

 

[rapparee]

Thanks, never heard of wavin pipes. House is circa 1920's would it be combined drains?

not sure. there is only one manhole on the property and that seems to have only rainwater

It's unlikely to be wavin if it is circa 1920s, could be concrete pipes, I hope the high pressure jet didn't break the pipes.

 

[Tony S]

Happy digging  :Salute  it's the only way.

Count yourself lucky you don't have my ex-wife helping. Despite me telling her I was about to break in to the drains she managed to empty the kitchen sink and the washing machine.

 

[Rob_the_rich]

there is only one manhole on the property and that seems to have only rainwater

There must be another one out the back somewhere (or basement?). Assuming that the one you think is all rainwater is out front. Take a look at other houses next door and see if they have 2.

 

[revjames]

No there is only 1. The property is detached and all the others nearby are terraced. 

 

[Andy™]

im still going with a blocked pipe between drain & manhole. drain roads / hose from manhole back might clear it

 

[revjames]

It's unlikely to be wavin if it is circa 1920s, could be concrete pipes, I hope the high pressure jet didn't break the pipes.

What I don't get is that there has never been a problem flushing away. The poo that has appeared is more than we would have produced since yesterday!

 

[Rob_the_rich]

The poo that has appeared is more than we would have produced since yesterday

they are more than likely communal "floaters" travelling languidly uphill

 

[Andy™]

maybe its been blocked for a while and the solid backing up in the pipe, water still slowly flowing through. now that you have disturbed it...

 

[Murdoch]

We have surface water AND dirty water drains - there is absolutely no connection between them.

Time to get a man with a camera or 2?

 

[Rob_the_rich]

Noticed any caravans parked up nearby?  :innocent

 

[revjames]

AFAIK there is no communal drain flowing across my property but who knows?

maybe its been blocked for a while and the solid backing up in the pipe, water still slowly flowing through. now that you have disturbed it...

thats a good point. Considering the massive trees we just removed from that side of the property I very much doubt there would be a communal drain

 

[Barx]

Or maybe the blockage that you 'cleared' is no clogging further down the pipe after the join. I would say they are joined drains with age...

 

[revjames]

We have surface water AND dirty water drains - there is absolutely no connection between them.

Time to get a man with a camera or 2?

I have notified my buildings insurance and waiting for a reply

Or maybe the blockage that you 'cleared' is no clogging further down the pipe after the join. I would say they are joined drains with age...

also a possibility

 

[Andy™]

notify insurance? come on, we all know plumbers are failed sparks, so if they can sort it, then im sure you can

 

[binky]

my rain water goes into sewer drain, but my house is circa 1885 or approximately the time General Custer died!

Think I'm with Barx on this one