Cellar flooded

geeka

Hi all,
I am looking for some advice. I have an back to back house (which goes stgraight onto the pavement) with a cellar and its got water in (about 2 inches). I cleared it out the other night, it stunk and the fumes set the fire alarm off!
I went back down again last night and about the same level of water was back. I've had a look on the floor and it looks like its coming up from the semi concrete floor. Ive had the house 9 years and when it rains loads I get a little water in but this seems different (and weve not had much rain for a month).
The drains run along the line of the pavement.
I think the water is coming from the drains (it smells and seems consitant with drain water). I know its not from my out fall from kitchen or bathroom toilet as they are at other side of the house.
Whats my next move? i've asked a neighbour 2 doors down and they aren't flooded. I'm going to ask my two neighbours next to me if they are flooded. What then?
Any advice or links would help as I would think I would need to contact water company and/or enviromental health. I dont want to be fobbed off so getting all my rights and understanding the process would be brilliant.
Thanks
Tim

macman

geeka wrote: »

Hi all,
I am looking for some advice. I have an back to back house (which goes stgraight onto the pavement) with a cellar and its got water in (about 2 inches). I cleared it out the other night, it stunk and the fumes set the fire alarm off!
I went back down again last night and about the same level of water was back. I've had a look on the floor and it looks like its coming up from the semi concrete floor. Ive had the house 9 years and when it rains loads I get a little water in but this seems different (and weve not had much rain for a month).
The drains run along the line of the pavement.
I think the water is coming from the drains (it smells and seems consitant with drain water). I know its not from my out fall from kitchen or bathroom toilet as they are at other side of the house.
Whats my next move? i've asked a neighbour 2 doors down and they aren't flooded. I'm going to ask my two neighbours next to me if they are flooded. What then?
Any advice or links would help as I would think I would need to contact water company and/or enviromental health. I dont want to be fobbed off so getting all my rights and understanding the process would be brilliant.
Thanks
Tim

But does the drain not then run at the side of the house out to the publc sewer on the front road? Is the drain yours alone or shared with the neighbouring houses? It's either down to you or the water utility-nothing to do with EH.

geeka

Thanks for quick response. My house is an back to back, my only entrance is at the front. I have houses next to me both sides and behind. See diagram below (I am no 3).

My front door goes straight onto pavement. The water looks to be coming from the pavement side where the drain is.


Road

---

Pavement

---

I no 1 I no 3 I no 5 I other houses (2) ---->
----back to back shared wall

---

I no 13 I no 15 I no 17 I other houses (2) ---->

---

Pavement

---

Road

macman

But is there not a common drain further along on one side taking the waste away from several houses?

geeka

yes there is goes from one end of the street to the other, not under the house though.

Cardew

You are only responsible for your drain until it meets a shared drain or main sewer. See:

http://www.unitedutilities.com/sewers-and-drains-explained.aspx

geeka

Who is it best to contact first?

Cardew

Your water company initially.

geeka

the timing co-insides with when the coucil dumped a load of snow about 5 feet high outside my house and it didn't melt for 2 weeks! could something like that damage or crack the pipe?

macman

geeka wrote: »

yes there is goes from one end of the street to the other, not under the house though.

I'm not talking about a common drain, not the public sewer.
Your waste has to get from the back of the house to the front road sewer somehow, unless there is another sewer along the back of the street. Cardew's diagram shows it very nicely.

geeka

the waste comes out the front of the house into the pavement and down to the drain.

macman wrote: »

I'm not talking about a common drain, not the public sewer.
Your waste has to get from the back of the house to the front road sewer somehow, unless there is another sewer along the back of the street. Cardew's diagram shows it very nicely.