rain water soakaway

[hoppo4.2]

so last week while i was investigating the drains at my new house to see where i could run in the soil pipe for a "new fangled indoor toilet" i discovered what looks like a large well covered with a slab positioned between me and nextdoor. further looking showed up that the rainwater from both houses (at the rear runs into this "well" so i guess its some kind of soakaway. the thing is ist quite big aprox 4ft accross, god knows how deep? and full of water up to about 3ft from the top.

it is also less than 1m from the walls of eather house. im a little bothered about having that much water going into the ground so close to the house. but its been there over 100 years as far as i can tell so shouldnt be a problem. dose this sound normal to you guys by the way the house was built in 1887.

the other thing is that the searches and land reg etc says that rain water drains to public sewer?

[Busamav]

It is a well .

[Pixel Pusher]

Many years ago while I was working with a builder, we had to re lay a kitchen floor. While removing the old layer, we encountered exacly the same thing as you describe but beneath the house! The property believe it or not was owned at the time by a Building society manager and this issue was never picked up on his survey. After a bit of investigation, it was decided that the best course of action was to leave it alone. There was no history of subsidence or other negative effects to the property, (not even a damp issue) so the new floor was laid over the top. As the other reply said it was a well.

You could drain it but would it probably need a full infill or liner as the water table would fill it up or seek the next nearest void and that would be a problem. If it is captivated it may be best to leave it be. Just check for subsidence history.

I'm sure current building regs forbid rain water in the sewers in case of overflow hence soak aways, but back then, who knows.

Best of luck.

[hoppo4.2]

my first thought was it was a well orignaly shaired between the two houses. and at a later date the rain water was diverted into there.

the house is alittle damp but it has never had a DPC untill now. i have spoken to the old ladies that live next door but they didnt no it was there.

im not sure where the rain water from the front of the house is going but ill investigate that next.

if it turns out that it is going into another "well". ill call the water board and they can stop charging me for the privlage of using there sewer.

[silverthorn2151]

I would just sit quietly and not worry too much about getting the water authority involved. Down that road lies only pain!

Besides, aren't they taking the poo away?

[andyroo]

If you've had no problems I would leave it be. Last thing you want is the EA on your case.

[hoppo4.2]

I'm sure that if the rain water drains to a public sewer there is an additional charge. The EA can't have a problem with rain water going into the ground?

Either way it's been like that for over 100 years.

[andyroo]

hoppo4.2 said:

I'm sure that if the rain water drains to a public sewer there is an additional charge. The EA can't have a problem with rain water going into the ground?

Either way it's been like that for over 100 years.

Depends on the location and soil conditions. They can make things very difficult indeed, regardless of the history.