Where is the drainage pipe outlet?

[Rekusu]

What ho one and all,

The land for my house has a fall of around3-4 meters, front to back over about 50 m. Rainwater from the roundabout in front tends to drain onto my land a prior to building, sort of 'flooded' the front garden.

During the build, I installed a sump on the verge and took a underground drainage to the woodland at the rear of the garden. Unfortunately, I did not take photographs. Although buried on my land, the actual outlet was on the surface in the woods so that water could drain out. But 1,2, 3, or 4 meters from my boundary? Beats me?

Nowadays, the water does drain away, and then the flooding starts again. I think the outlet in the woodland has become blocked with leaves, twigs and perhaps 'someone' has made a home there. I would like to find the outlet but uncertain where it is, and it is certainly now covered with brambles, fallen branches, etc.

My question is, what would be the best way to find the outlet without actually clearing everything and digging where I 'think' it may be?

Thanks and toodle pip

 

[scbk]

Is the pipe solid plastic pipe, or is it wavin coil?
Poke about in the ground with a metal bar/garden fork where you think the pipe might be?
Push drain rods down the pipe from the top end?
Or push a garden hose down?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Pour this into your sump pump and put the hose in the pump thus making the pump work. you will soon see the dye in the woods.

Monument Tools Fluorescein Drain Dye 133g - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Powder dye for tracing the direction of flow or where a drain pipe runs. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Andy

 

[Rekusu]

Thanks for the ideas. If memory serves me correctly, it is Wavin coil. Have been considering poking around but certain I will hit stones and not then know when I have found the pipe.

Hose or drain rods; didn't think of the former but don't have access to 50m + of drain rods.

As for the dye, that seems a very good idea. Did not know such a thing existed, thanks.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If when water is flowing.....

Bang a metal rod into the ground, where the pipe begins. Connect a resistance meter, between that, and a second probe - you will need 50m of insulated wire. Probe around with the second probe, where you think the exit should be. Lowest resistance will be where your pipe ends.

 

[Rekusu]

Interesting! My guess will be that 50m + of wire will be more expensive than the dye.

 

[bernardgreen]

Using sound might work. A source of sound at the end of the pipe, ( transistor radio for example ) covered with blankets to contain the sound into the pipe.

Then listen for for the sound where you think the end of the pipe might be.,

 

[Rekusu]

Sound, interesting thought. Could plug the hose of my wet/dry vac into the pipe and hopefully, the motor would be audible in the woodland.

It did occur to me, perhaps a plumbers smoke bomb in the wet/dry vac with the hose reversed to blow mode. May be the smoke would appear at the woodland end?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Using sound might work. A source of sound at the end of the pipe, ( transistor radio for example ) covered with blankets to contain the sound into the pipe.

Then listen for for the sound where you think the end of the pipe might be.,

That would work, but only if the pipe had an airspace, along its full length.

Another idea, if the OP has access to an air compressor....

Seal an airline end, into the pipe, run the compressor, and you should be able to hear the air emitted, at the far end, to be able to find it.

 

[bernardgreen]

Seal an airline end, into the pipe,

or use a leaf blower

 

[Rekusu]

Don't have a compressor but a leaf blower sounds hopeful. Again, thanks for the various suggestions.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Don't have a compressor but a leaf blower sounds hopeful. Again, thanks for the various suggestions.

Keep us informed, of how you get on - it's an interesting problem.

 

[Rekusu]

It's a job I need to investigate but scrambling around a tangle of branches and bramble in wet woodland, albeit only a few meters from my fence, does not get my motivation fired up!!!