Significant Drainage Issue

[JackAp]

Hi, after moving into a house after a few weeks sewage began to flow out from the manhole cover on the drive, after opening it and a call to the water board we discovered shattered fragments of the drain pipe leading to the main sewer under the road, after clearing them the waste drained away but we are at a loss of what to do next as it has happened again since. (After a while toilet paper and other lovely stuff get caught and slowly block it again)

I don't know much about drains but apparently the 'interceptor' has been completely destroyed according to the water board people who came originally, (I'll post pictures attatched, apologies for the mess and don't look if you're squeamish )
EDIT: The picture was taken after it had just been unblocked again, usually it is full of toilet paper and other debris)

and was wondering what the best solution to fix this would be, would filling up where the interceptor used to be with some sort of material solve this issue?

We can't afford to spend lots at the moment with the current situation and to me it looks as if the problem could be solved by filling up the hole where the broken interceptor was below the outlet.
Would this be advised? And if so, what material would be used to fill this hole up?

Cheers, J.

 

[noseall]

That looks deep and very narrow. Who do you suppose is going to work down there? Time to get the shovel out.

 

[bernardgreen]

Does the damaged sewer serve only your house or does it also take sewage from another house ? If it does take sewage from any other property as well as your then the Water Company are in almost all cases responsible for repairing the sewer.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

The only solution to that is to dig it up and repair it properly. You cannot just fill the Interceptor in, it doesn't work like that. Good news is, it is not needed these days, so can be replaced with a straight piece of pipe, but obviously will need doing properly.

As Bernard has explained, if that is a shared sewer at that point, (so you and at least one other property use it), then it is the Water Company's responsibility, they need to repair it. If not, then look at your house insurance and see if the drains are covered.

If you've just bought the place, what sort of a survey did you have done? It seems the drains were not inspected, that should have been obvious to anyone lifting the cover.

 

[HERTS P&D]

If you've just bought the place, what sort of a survey did you have done?

Like most new home owners, not a full one.

Andy

 

[JackAp]

Yup, not a full survey, very silly I know - have checked with the board already it is not shared (on our drive) and is therefore the homeowner responsibility

 

[JackAp]

The only solution to that is to dig it up and repair it properly. You cannot just fill the Interceptor in, it doesn't work like that. Good news is, it is not needed these days, so can be replaced with a straight piece of pipe, but obviously will need doing properly.

As Bernard has explained, if that is a shared sewer at that point, (so you and at least one other property use it), then it is the Water Company's responsibility, they need to repair it. If not, then look at your house insurance and see if the drains are covered.

If you've just bought the place, what sort of a survey did you have done? It seems the drains were not inspected, that should have been obvious to anyone lifting the cover.

So realistically you would be looking at needing a proper drain engineer to fix this? Is this the cheapest option?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Get 3 quotes from some local builders.

Andy

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

+1 for Andy's advice.

Get quotes from local Builders or Groundworks firms. Avoid the specialist franchised drainage companies at all costs, (they're not known as Dyno Rob for nothing). I think to be honest, looking at the condition of that chamber, you may be better having the lot removed, and a new chamber built. (A 450mm preformed plastic chamber may well be adequate.) This depends on access to the existing chamber, and if someone is willing/or even able to work in it to bench it as required to suit the new pipework and channel.

What area are you in? Someone might be able to point you in the right direction of a suitable Builder to do the work.

 

[JackAp]

Am located in Chester area, but yeah I think you're probably right about needing builders, was hoping it was going to be an easier fix. Oh well, thanks for the advice and help anyway

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Too far from me to be able to suggest anyone, but if you need any further help, come back. Afraid it's not about the cheapest option, it's about the only option.

Plenty of interceptors have been pulled out over the years for similar issues, they're a total PITA but the Victorians thought them necessary, and keep drainage people and Builders in work!

 

[Ian H]

That’s an unusually small manhole. How deep is it?

Once you have it dug up it’s not a difficult job, the hardest part would be if the majority of the trap were well built into the manhole wall.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

That’s an unusually small manhole. How deep is it?

Went to one a similar size on a job in Cambridge, it had to be a good 12' deep. We had to clean it out with a combi unit as nothing else would reach to get the crud out the bottom.