Side drain outside, can see water in it

longwalks1

down the side of the house we have a small square open drain where 2 plastic pipes run into from inside the house, 1 is washing machine drain off the other from the downstairs WC wash basin. You can actually see a water level down there, so there is standing water in it, is this normal?

Never noticed it before, but should we be concerned?

MisterP123

There'll be a water trap, yes. Otherwise it would stink to high heaven.

societys_child

I'd be more concerned if there was no water in it ... It'd be an open sewer!

Jonesya

The drain trap is like your toilet - the water sits in the bottom and stops gasses and smells from the pipes coming through, but as you empty more water/waste into it, it drains away keeping the level constant.

Time to get concerned is if it over-flows.

longwalks1

Thanks everyone, mind now put at ease