Blocked soakaway, or just a pipe?

phoenix__

Hi all,

We have a downpipe at the front of our house that takes rainwater from our/attached neighbour's roof. I've noticed recently when there is heavy rain water starts overflowing the drain and flooding our path.

The path slopes towards the house, there is a step between the path and the porch, as well as the rest of the tiled front garden. So far, the water has never gone over either step.

I called out homeserve (we have drain cover) who instantly said this wouldn't be covered as it's a) A shared raninwater drain, and b) a soakaway. However he would have a quick look to see if it was something obvious / simple.

He removed an amount of 'sludge' just by putting his hand down the drain, then pumped a bit with his manual 'plunger' (that goes into the drain, not just sitting on the top) but pouring a bucket of water down it filled up instantly.

There was no proper cover over the drain, so leaves etc. can get down.

He said the pipe goes under our neighbour's garden (the one we share the downpipe with) and he has asserted that the soakaway will be full based. He also said that jetwash wouldn't make much difference (it might help for a month).

The house was built ~1875, we've lived here about 4 years, it's in London.

Is it a fair assumption that the soakaway is full based on removing a couple of handfuls of sludge from the entrance to the pipe or could it just be a blocked pipe with no actual soakaway issue? Is there any way to test? (our DIY abilities are next to zero).

Do people have any suggestions as to what to do next? To be 3m away from any property, the soakaway will have to be at least partly under the public pavement / road and our/neighbours garden concrete rather than grass.

Any advise or suggestions greatly appreciated.

phoenix__

Having just checked one of the drainage / water surveys when we bought the house it says that our surface water does drain into the public sewer (and we pay £20pa as part of our water bill).

So the question now is do I actually have a soakaway / how can I tell?

JustinR1979

I had similar, stones and all sorts blocked it so water wouldn't drain at all.
Plenty of time with a length of wire and pressure washer, and eventually it moved.

amerste

I think you should invest in some drain rods, maybe go 50/50 with your neighbour. Just fix the spiral end and pull out any debris a bit at a time, plunging won't do any good until most of the sludge is removed it will force the blockage to compact tighter.

Alias_Omega

I believe there are 2 types of drains, Sewer (Foul) and Surface.

Contact Thames Water - http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/16500.htm

for advice on the blocked surface water drain, its a shared drain and both properties may be affected..

Worst case... your going to have to put your hand down the drain and scoop it out. Its okay, its not P00..its just leaves/mud/moss etc.

cyclonebri1

Ok, this 1 is easy, you have party answered your own question.

Soakaways on older properties rarely work under flood conditions.,

They get silted up and are inferior to those constructed today.

This bis the reason that so many folks simply divert rainwater into the foul sewer, much to the ire of the LA.

Check out drainage crates then dig a big hole, ;)