Identifying drain types i.e foul?

Question

I am wanting to add an en-suite with WC. I can identify the main soil stack for the house but that is not near where I want the en-suite. But below the window where I do want the en-site is a man hole cover, which heads towards the street. I have sofar only being able to confirm that rain water goes to it. Any ideas before I end up getting a saniflow!

Answer 1

theres the storm drain (only rain water )
and the fowl (everything from inside your house )
you cannot connect one to the other (law inforced)
the only time this can be done if its a combined system , normally on old properties ::::: check with you council!!!!!

Answer 2

You might not have separate drains for foul drainage and surface water. It was once common practice to run everything (loos, basins and gutters) into a single pipe, so that everything ends up at the sewage works. Only one pipe, so less work and materials for builders. My 1930s house is like that, and if yours isn't modern either, the same might apply to you. More recent rules require separation, with the surface water ending up in some nearby river, so the sewage works doesn't get inundated after heavy rain. If your drains are like mine, you can couple your new WC etc into the single pipe, but as has been said, the work will require building regulation consent.

Answer 3

There are several types of drains as follows:
Highway Drain, used solely for draining the highway you are not permitted to conect to this but they are seldom laid anywhere but in the road.
Storm Water Drain/Surface Water Sewer, as the name suggests only takes rain water when looking down a manhole you can normally see water in the bottom with a pipe coming in and one going out but nothing between them the bottom of the manhole is lower than the pipe to catch the silt.
Foul Sewer, takes waste water from properties when looking in the manhole the in and out pipes are linked by a half section of pipe with benching up the sides
Combined sewer, takes both waste and surface water sewer and normally looks the same as a foul water manhole,
Hope the above makes sense and helps, if you connect to the wrong one you could have the envirnmental health department after you.

Answer 4

Never add foul water to surface (rain water) system. You should be able to track the foul water system route by putting food colourant in the toilet cistern and flushing (lift manhole covers first) then work out closest point to new en-suite location. If you need to add another manhole on the system plastic ones are available from good DIY stores and are not that dear.

Answer 5

1. Contact Building Control at your local council. You will need approval to your plumbing additions to your home - and that they conform to various Building Regulations on these works - (ie not being able to electricute yourself when you step under the shower - or cause flooding further down the street....etc)

You can do the work outside of the Regs but will cause you probs when you sell or on home Insurance.

2. You can excavate outside the house and "tap" into the foul drain (with Regs / Planning approval -take lots of digital photos of the underground work with tape measure - scale in shot to show to inspectors if you cover up the works before they see them). PROVIDING the fall/ wun off of the drain is sufficient for your new drain to meet up with it. - Get some drain lifters from your local hire centre to check.
3.After exploring these then make your submission to the Council with all the KNOWN solutions as to how you are going to do it - or they will ask you to come back after you have made relevant enquiries.Which will waste loads of time....

Good Luck

Dave the Builder

Answer 6

You need Building regulations permission from your local council before you do anything which may affect the drainage system. You should have a manhole cover for the foul system so you can clear blockages. Severn Trent Water Company supply drain plans on request - try your water company.

Answer 7

Main hole covers are for ground water run off. You should hire a plumber. What you are doing requires a building permit it all 50 states.

Answer 8

remove man hole cover lid ..ask a Friend to flush the toilet ..or turn on the kitchen sink ..if no water is heard or shows ..then it is only a storm drain and should not be used