Discussion
Is there any way to find out where the sewage pipes that take our waste away lead to and which other houses connect to the same main sewage.
We have 2 inspection covers in the patio and both of these are about a third full of water with one containing a fair amount of toilet paper. So clearly there is a blockage (partial) somewhere. I am not saying we are completely to blame in using too much toilet paper but it would be useful to know which other houses feed in so I can speak to them. Of course I'm not expecting any of them to admit to flushing wet wipes down the loo!
Is this something I can ask the water company to investigate or wouldn't they be interested.
We have 2 inspection covers in the patio and both of these are about a third full of water with one containing a fair amount of toilet paper. So clearly there is a blockage (partial) somewhere. I am not saying we are completely to blame in using too much toilet paper but it would be useful to know which other houses feed in so I can speak to them. Of course I'm not expecting any of them to admit to flushing wet wipes down the loo!
Is this something I can ask the water company to investigate or wouldn't they be interested.
follow the flow...at one point the drains will be clear showing the likely place of the blockage. Neighbours will usually be good about letting you have a look. Then go to the drain before its is clear and it should be very full. Up to you or the drain 'owner' if they clear.
I purchase rods years ago and have used several times. Horrible job but one you can sort yourself. Look out for any builders of works going on, some berk may be destroyed the drain or poured concrete down it.
I purchase rods years ago and have used several times. Horrible job but one you can sort yourself. Look out for any builders of works going on, some berk may be destroyed the drain or poured concrete down it.
But I presume the problem could be on a shared sewer. We had a similar issue about 15 years ago and called out someone who proceeded to rod pretty much every sewage pipe he could find eventually finding the issue in the next street! I don't recall paying anything for this so suspect this was the water (sewage) company.
I'm 'happy' to call someone out although having to pay for this (which is unlikely to be a small amount) is annoying if we aren't to blame for the issues.
I'm 'happy' to call someone out although having to pay for this (which is unlikely to be a small amount) is annoying if we aren't to blame for the issues.
I have twice reported a sewer blockage. Mrs sospan noticed a different sound to the foul water drains and I lifted the inspection cover on our property. The chamber was almost oveflowing.
I phoned Welsh Water and they sent someone out very quickly ( I did describe how close to overflowing the blockage was.)
I informed neighbours. The Man they sent came with his lorry/cleaner. My neighbour had a plan of the sewerage layout in his deeds he had. This helped trace the sewers as the Welsh Water man didn't know ( no plans) the routing. A fatberg was found down the road in a large inspection chamber. This was cleared using water jets, the chamber was filling fast but cleared. No cost to any residents.
Second blockage reported a couple of years later. Man came and used a camera to find the blockage ( diffent place this time). Rubble left by builders was cleaned out without digging. No cost again.
The plan we had helped trace the pipes. The man got Welsh Water plans updated so any future problems would be easier to cure.
So, check your deeds for any plans.
I phoned Welsh Water and they sent someone out very quickly ( I did describe how close to overflowing the blockage was.)
I informed neighbours. The Man they sent came with his lorry/cleaner. My neighbour had a plan of the sewerage layout in his deeds he had. This helped trace the sewers as the Welsh Water man didn't know ( no plans) the routing. A fatberg was found down the road in a large inspection chamber. This was cleared using water jets, the chamber was filling fast but cleared. No cost to any residents.
Second blockage reported a couple of years later. Man came and used a camera to find the blockage ( diffent place this time). Rubble left by builders was cleaned out without digging. No cost again.
The plan we had helped trace the pipes. The man got Welsh Water plans updated so any future problems would be easier to cure.
So, check your deeds for any plans.
Plus4Four said:
I have twice reported a sewer blockage. Mrs sospan noticed a different sound to the foul water drains and I lifted the inspection cover on our property. The chamber was almost oveflowing.
I phoned Welsh Water and they sent someone out very quickly ( I did describe how close to overflowing the blockage was.)
I informed neighbours. The Man they sent came with his lorry/cleaner. My neighbour had a plan of the sewerage layout in his deeds he had. This helped trace the sewers as the Welsh Water man didn't know ( no plans) the routing. A fatberg was found down the road in a large inspection chamber. This was cleared using water jets, the chamber was filling fast but cleared. No cost to any residents.
Second blockage reported a couple of years later. Man came and used a camera to find the blockage ( diffent place this time). Rubble left by builders was cleaned out without digging. No cost again.
The plan we had helped trace the pipes. The man got Welsh Water plans updated so any future problems would be easier to cure.
So, check your deeds for any plans.
Similar experience with Dwr Cymru for a persistent issue. Eventually they addressed a sump issue in the line at significant cost.I phoned Welsh Water and they sent someone out very quickly ( I did describe how close to overflowing the blockage was.)
I informed neighbours. The Man they sent came with his lorry/cleaner. My neighbour had a plan of the sewerage layout in his deeds he had. This helped trace the sewers as the Welsh Water man didn't know ( no plans) the routing. A fatberg was found down the road in a large inspection chamber. This was cleared using water jets, the chamber was filling fast but cleared. No cost to any residents.
Second blockage reported a couple of years later. Man came and used a camera to find the blockage ( diffent place this time). Rubble left by builders was cleaned out without digging. No cost again.
The plan we had helped trace the pipes. The man got Welsh Water plans updated so any future problems would be easier to cure.
So, check your deeds for any plans.
N.b. why the change of account sospan?
I'm fairly sure that in England and Wales, shared sewers are considered to be public sewers even when within your property boundaries, the water company is obliged to sort the problem out, leave it to them.
They won't volunteer to do it, so you may have to push them. I had an inspection cover and frame replaced (frame had crumbled due to corrosion) FOC at my place because it was a shared sewer.
They won't volunteer to do it, so you may have to push them. I had an inspection cover and frame replaced (frame had crumbled due to corrosion) FOC at my place because it was a shared sewer.
Edited by oakdale on Tuesday 27th January 09:58
oakdale said:
I'm fairly sure that in England and Wales, shared sewers are considered to be public sewers even when within your property boundaries, the water company is obliged to sort the problem out, leave it to them.
The private part from your house to the main sewer is usually your responsibility not the water company, from the branch into main then yes it’s all theirs to clear.In the last 25 years I’ve rodded ours over a dozen times, half a dozen properties with a 4inch waste pipe feeding into a main concrete pipe on the next road.
In 2020 we had a blockage I couldn’t shift no mater how much I rodded upstream to it, (always Rod up not down stream) called water company they blasted it clear.
I mentioned to them how often I had done it he said leave it to us as if it’s a regular occurrence they won’t know about it if I do it, whereas if they’re called out it’s all on record.
Once a year is the norm since then, 9/10 times it’s wet wipes as well which pisses me off as every householder among the 6 knows you shouldn’t flush them down the sewer.
oakdale said:
I'm fairly sure that in England and Wales, shared sewers are considered to be public sewers even when within your property boundaries, the water company is obliged to sort the problem out, leave it to them.
They won't volunteer to do it, so you may have to push them. I had an inspection cover and frame replaced (frame had crumbled due to corrosion) FOC at my place because it was a shared sewer.
Correct They won't volunteer to do it, so you may have to push them. I had an inspection cover and frame replaced (frame had crumbled due to corrosion) FOC at my place because it was a shared sewer.
Edited by oakdale on Tuesday 27th January 09:58
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