Downpipe problem

[mnh]

Hi, looking for a bit of advice if anyone can help.

I noticed one of my rainwater downpipes seemed to be leaking near the roof recently and water was running down the wall every time it rained. The pipe was cemented into the ground through a hole in a paving slab.

I removed a section of the downpipe and it was full of decaying leaf matter which was almost compost like indicating it has been like that for some time. I then tested the small bit of pipe left above ground but even small amounts of water were taking a very long time to dissipate. I tried rodding it with a claw attachment and managed to remove quite a bit more debris including some reasonable sized stones but I could only get the rod about 8 inches underground. So, I chipped out the cement and when i pulled out the small remaining section of downpipe it was not connected to anything. The ground directly beneath it is like a sand and hardcore mix but this is directly adjacent to my house foundations.

I got a copy of the house drainage plans from Building control which indicate that that downpipe should be connected to a shared soakaway on my neighbours property.

Is it possible they changed their plans - could it be a filter drain? Or did the builder just not fancy constructing that soakaway and just stick the pipe into the ground?!

[seanandruby]

seems very cowboyish if he has done that. You'll need to investigate if there is a soakaway and pipe up to it. If not you'll need to conctruct one. Could be some work was done close to house and that section of pipe removed. Your foundatiions could be in danger if left unchecked.

[mnh]

Yes, I agree, and very careless of the building control officer not to notice....

However, knowing the build quality of the house as I do now it wouldn't surprise me unfortunately. The building company has now been dissolved.

I have half-heartedly dug a couple of shallow holes nearby on roughly the line that the approved plan says the pipe should run towards the (possible?) soakaway but the best area to dig would be under the paving stones so I wanted to check for advice here first before I start tearing that up!

One bit of probably irrelevant info is that in one of the holes I dug, I came across a very thin but defined layer (5mm or so) of what looks like grey/white clay. There is no clay in soil anywhere else. It's very sandy in general.

[flowjoe]

If you have come to the end of the pipe work you will have to install your own system and soak-away, should be 5mtrs from the property where possible.

If the house is less than 10 years old you may have a claim if covered by NHBC (but don't hold your breath on that one).