Drains and neighbours

kettlefish

Our neighbour popped round last night and asked if our loos etc were flushing ok, as they had had a leak from the back of their washing machine. We were not affected. Turns out there was a problem with the drains, so they called out "a man" who sorted it out today. They are the last house before our cul de sac's branch sewer joins the main one, so get all the blockages apparently as they go round the corner from the tributary into the main pipe.

While investigating the problem the manhole cover on our property was lifted up and several wipes found in there - could have been baby wipes, cleaning wipes etc, but I am always really careful not to flush any sort of wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds etc down the loo - as I know they can block drains! Presumably if they are the last property before the main pipe then we are the second to last, so could be getting other people's toilet waste... Does anyone know if the manhole covers on our property will be part of the branch drain or whether they are our personal drains? As obviously if the wipes are coming from our loo then DH needs a telling off They were really nice about it but I feel bad and don't want this to effect a previously very good neighbourly relationship. How do I handle it?

I realise this is twofold with the question re how sewage system works so please move to another board if necessary.

Tiddlywinks

No real knowledge of how drains work - even though I had major problems with a Victorian drain in a previous property...

You may have more succes posting on the House Buying, Renting and & Selling or In The Home (includes DIY) threads...

kettlefish

Turns out it must have been us as the manholes on our property only serve our "sub drain" or whatever it's called. Off to Asda to get flowers and choccies to thank lovely neighbours for sorting it out - then to tell off DH for secretly flushing wipes :eek:

themull1

Why don't you offer to pay for some of the cost?

princeofpounds

If these are shared drains on private property, the regulations recently changed and much more of it will now be the responsibility of the water companies. just FYI.

kettlefish

Obviously we would be more than prepared to cover any cost, but apparently they didn't pay anything. I'm not that mean that I'd see our elderly neighbours out of pocket!

Just to clarify the blockage and problems they had may not have been solely our fault, although clearly the evidence suggests that we did contribute to the problem!

belfastgirl23

Don't be too sure it's from your property. If you've had any flooding etc it could possibly have backed things up? Or there could be something a bit weird about your drains. We've had trouble with the neighbours doing exactly the same thing but it shows up in our system because it backs up right the way from their manhole and starts coming out our side drain (as disgusting as it sounds). The drains guy didn't believe me at first but the loo roll was blue and we never use blue so I was pretty sure. However once he investigated he said I was spot on.

Just saying, ask your husband before taking him to court