Search the forum,

Discuss Soil pipe and rainwater - is this set up legal? in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Messages
2
Hello everyone,

I could do with some opinions on the drainage set up at a house I am buying and would really appreciate your advice. I've been searching online for weeks but got conflicting information. I'm trying to see if the changes made to drainage are legal.

The previous owner moved the toilet to the back of the building and changed the soil pipe accordingly. In doing this, it crossed where the rain gutter was and so they removed the existing gutter pipe and connected it directly into the soil pipe. According to the water company there are separate surface and foul sewers in the street so am I right in thinking that this is against regulations?

Similarly, the advice I've seen elsewhere online is unclear whether the dishwasher and kitchen sink are allowed to go into the drain that the guttering went into.

I've attached a picture to try and be as clear as possible. If any
of you can help advise me on how legal this set up is, that would be really fantastic.

I've already had a look around the forums and got a load of useful information for the new house already, so thanks in advance everyone!

drain diagram.jpg
IMG_1126 - Edited.jpg
 
The gully that the kitchen sink went into is almost certainly connected to the foul sewer (check for certain by lifting a manhole downstream and watch for water poured into the gully to appear).

In that case, if the rainwater was also connected to the foul sewer via this gully then it was a combined system. This is not illegal and in fact is quite common in this age property.

However the rainwater May have originally been connected to a soak away and not into this gully. The patch of newer concrete supports this possibility.

Needs a bit of checking on site.

If extension has planning/building control certification then it has all been passed so don’t worry.

I believe you can purchase an indemnity against any existing swerves of planning etc when you are buying a new house.
 
Against regs, esp. If your area operates "seperate" system. Get a local plumber to have a look, there may be other issues.
 
Closer investigation required.
There may be separate systems in the street but it doesn't guarentee that this property has separate systems.

I'd be suspicious (but that's me) of the apparently newish grey rodding access at the bottom of the stack, possibly suggesting there have been blockage(s).

It doesn't look like anything has been altered underground.
Looks like the original stack was there with a branch from a WC just up left of the bend , then vent up to roofline.
Are there any manholes nearby?

I'd first get your solicitor to ask for detail of the work carried out, including any Building regs sign off, which I doubt there was.
 
Does the downpipe not become a stench pipe which should be terminated above the eaves?
 
I would get a local plumber to do a pre purchase report, cost and inconvenience a gnat bite compared to the alternative....;)
 
Thank you SO MUCH everyone for your replies. I am sorry it took so long for me to respond. We started the move out of our old place the day I posted that message. I saw we ... My partner got "stranded" in Berlin so I was left to do it alone!

It looks like my suspicions were founded and I share get someone to take a closer look at the drainage set up. Although the fact that there isn't consensus on this thread shows how these sorts of things aren't always clear cut, so I feel a bit better about my uncertainty after reading the regulations!

I also very much doubt they have building control sign off as the changes made weren't for an extension, just an internal rearranging of the bathroom, which normally doesn't require sign off.

Just to clarify, the grey bit at the bottom isn't new, bit is in fact the original bit of the soil pipe (the grey soil pipe can be seen on old photos of the property from when it was last sold) and all the black pipes are the new ones.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your time and expertise. I really appreciate it.
 
I know its an old thread but..
Housholds can get cheaper utility charges by separating their foul water and rainwater discharge to soakaway.
centralheatking
I think we should charge the utility for our discharged water as without it there would be enough to re-process for the next punter to drink.
centralheatking
 

Reply to Soil pipe and rainwater - is this set up legal? in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock