What is this pipe found when digging foundation? Is it considered public sewer?

user1168934

I am in the process of having a small extension done at the back of the house to build a new bathroom. Building control is involved under 'Building Notice' type application. While digging for the foundation we have found a pipe with an opening of some kind (see picture). The person digging thinks this is the manhole for the house. Can someone kindly explain what this pipe is and can we build on top of it? I have done googling as much as I could and I will speak to the builder of course but he is not here at the moment.

My worry is that for some reason we won't be able to build on top of it - just getting anxious I suppose. Is this pipe part of public sewer? Because of this pipe, will I need anything other than the usual building regulations?

FYI - water and sewerage searches did not show any public sewers going through the property.

FreeBear

I'd suggest cleaning most of the clay off so that we can see what it is under all that muck. The rectangular cover looks a little odd. Does it lift off ?

user1168934

FreeBear said:

I'd suggest cleaning most of the clay off so that we can see what it is under all that muck. The rectangular cover looks a little odd. Does it lift off ?

I haven't tried lifting it off.

mwt_2

If the pipe doesn't belong to you i.e. it belongs to the water company, you will probably need permission from them to build over it and a build over certificate. Also, pretty sure you can't build the foundation on to it, you need to build over it so the pipe is "free" in the ground, rather than the house resting on it. I think they normally build an arch over them.

TELLIT01

I can't imagine that a pipe carrying any kind of liquid would have what appears to be a simple lift-off cover like that on it.  It suggests that whatever it is on has a flat top.  You need to remove all the soil on the top to properly expose it, and to see if that does just lift off.

Section62

user1168934 said:

FYI - water and sewerage searches did not show any public sewers going through the property.

It is more likely than not that public sewers serving 2 or a few properties won't come up on searches - in the majority of cases this information simply hasn't been collected and mapped by the water companies.

I'd echo the other comments that you need to uncover more of whatever this is to work out what is going on.

Don't be tempted (/persuaded) to fill the foundation with concrete and pretend it isn't there - it could prove to be costly in the longer-term.

Section62

TELLIT01 said:

I can't imagine that a pipe carrying any kind of liquid would have what appears to be a simple lift-off cover like that on it.  It suggests that whatever it is on has a flat top.  You need to remove all the soil on the top to properly expose it, and to see if that does just lift off.

It could be an inspection hatch - there's a possibility it is screwed down in places we can't see.  But unusual to do that on a pipe which is buried (although it could be explained).

user1168934

Section62 said:

user1168934 said:

FYI - water and sewerage searches did not show any public sewers going through the property.

It is more likely than not that public sewers serving 2 or a few properties won't come up on searches - in the majority of cases this information simply hasn't been collected and mapped by the water companies.

I'd echo the other comments that you need to uncover more of whatever this is to work out what is going on.

Don't be tempted (/persuaded) to fill the foundation with concrete and pretend it isn't there - it could prove to be costly in the longer-term.

It seems to be covered in concrete other than the hatch. Also it seems to be going straight to the point where my existing toilet drain pipe goes into the ground. They will be digging around the part tomorrow so hopefully we will find out. I also have the building control inspection for the foundation holes tomorrow so let's see what the inspector has to say about it.

If it does turn out to be the sewer pipe, what steps do I need to take? Shall I ask the builders to make a manhole somewhere? - I don't currently have a manhole anywhere.

How do I find out if this belongs to the water/swerage company or me?

stuart45

It sounds like the sewer pipe. The old salt glazed pipes had sand/cement joints so had to be encased in concrete as the joints weren't flexible.
That's probably a rodding eye.

Section62

user1168934 said:

If it does turn out to be the sewer pipe, what steps do I need to take? Shall I ask the builders to make a manhole somewhere? - I don't currently have a manhole anywhere.

How do I find out if this belongs to the water/swerage company or me?

If it only serves your property it is yours - if it serves another property as well then it is probably a public sewer.

The drainage layout should really have been established/designed long before the builder started digging - the fact this pipe has come as a surprise suggests it hasn't.  If it were me I would not be happy having no access to the drain serving my toilet - I doubt building control would be either - assuming this is your private drain I'd suggest it needs to be re-routed so it goes to a manhole outside the footprint of the extension, and then connnects to the existing downstream drain (possibly with a second manhole there).  Discuss this with BC and see what they think.

user1168934

Section62 said:

user1168934 said:

If it does turn out to be the sewer pipe, what steps do I need to take? Shall I ask the builders to make a manhole somewhere? - I don't currently have a manhole anywhere.

How do I find out if this belongs to the water/swerage company or me?

If it only serves your property it is yours - if it serves another property as well then it is probably a public sewer.

The drainage layout should really have been established/designed long before the builder started digging - the fact this pipe has come as a surprise suggests it hasn't.  If it were me I would not be happy having no access to the drain serving my toilet - I doubt building control would be either - assuming this is your private drain I'd suggest it needs to be re-routed so it goes to a manhole outside the footprint of the extension, and then connnects to the existing downstream drain (possibly with a second manhole there).  Discuss this with BC and see what they think.

All the drains are unmapped on any water/sewerage maps and they are not shown on any house documents that I have. How is the drainage layout established in the absence of any of these documents? (newbie question - sorry)

We cannot see any drains going across to the neighbouring properties. There is just one straight pipe going toward the back of my garden, may be it connects to a pipe further down the garden that goes across to other properties.

Do I need to get permission from the water/sewerage company?

I read in the water/sewerage website FAQ that if the building inspector is happy then you don't need it - can someone confirm please.

The last thing I need is the building inspector not raising it now and when all the work is done they ask for a written consent from the sewerage company. On the other hand I don't want to mention it myself because then he will certainly say he wants it which will be another £700ish plus 21 days delay.