Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:33 am
Hi
We're trying to battle with a very flooded (6 plus inches over an area approx 3 x 3m) garden, part of which is ours
and part a neighbouring property. (The neighbour is alledging the drain is on our property and hence we are causing the
problem and should fix it.) However we can't work out how the drainage is supposed to work to determine
what the problem is and hence try and resolve it.
We have a manhole at the bottom of the garden. (I've checked the deeds to the property it is not marked on any of the
plans or mentioned in any of the corresponding documents.) Under the manhole is an approximately 6 ft deep pit.
We are on clay soil, hence the pit is effectively clay lined. The manhole is located in the local low point (the best
way I can think of describing it is if you picture a soup bowl the manhole is towards one side and the area floods and
retains water like a bowl). We have dug out and de-silted the hole (several times to no effect). The hole has 3 pipes
heading into it 1 from the direction of our house and 2 from the direction of the neighbours on each side. It then
has a 4th pipe heading out of the pit towards the house behind. (We have been unable to ascertain the slope
angle on this pipe as to whether it slopes into the pit or out of the pit.)
Our neighbour (very elderley and confused) sent round a drainage contractor last night who claims he did some work
on the drain 3 years ago and that it is not a soakaway but a pit with inflow and outflow. He claims he used some
form of flexible pipe (suggesting 35 metres length of) to unblock what he calls the outflow pipe, and as we haven't been
maintaining and doing this we are causing the problem and should arrange for someone to clear the outflow pipe.
We are reluctant to do this as if he only cleared it 3 years ago, we've owned the property for 2 years and it's flooded
for 1 year, then he doesn't seem to be offering a very permanent solution to the problem.
Have you ever heard of such a drainage construction? (it's a Jones Homes property built in the late 1960s) Any ideas
how it is supposed to work? E.g. common sense would say why have the pit and the gap in the pipe to allow them to silt up,
why not just build a continuous pipe? And where might the outflow outflow to?
Any help would be very gratefully received. Alternatively can anyone recommend a reliable / experienced drainage
consultant in the Macclesfield, Cheshire area who can help us?
Best regards
We're trying to battle with a very flooded (6 plus inches over an area approx 3 x 3m) garden, part of which is ours
and part a neighbouring property. (The neighbour is alledging the drain is on our property and hence we are causing the
problem and should fix it.) However we can't work out how the drainage is supposed to work to determine
what the problem is and hence try and resolve it.
We have a manhole at the bottom of the garden. (I've checked the deeds to the property it is not marked on any of the
plans or mentioned in any of the corresponding documents.) Under the manhole is an approximately 6 ft deep pit.
We are on clay soil, hence the pit is effectively clay lined. The manhole is located in the local low point (the best
way I can think of describing it is if you picture a soup bowl the manhole is towards one side and the area floods and
retains water like a bowl). We have dug out and de-silted the hole (several times to no effect). The hole has 3 pipes
heading into it 1 from the direction of our house and 2 from the direction of the neighbours on each side. It then
has a 4th pipe heading out of the pit towards the house behind. (We have been unable to ascertain the slope
angle on this pipe as to whether it slopes into the pit or out of the pit.)
Our neighbour (very elderley and confused) sent round a drainage contractor last night who claims he did some work
on the drain 3 years ago and that it is not a soakaway but a pit with inflow and outflow. He claims he used some
form of flexible pipe (suggesting 35 metres length of) to unblock what he calls the outflow pipe, and as we haven't been
maintaining and doing this we are causing the problem and should arrange for someone to clear the outflow pipe.
We are reluctant to do this as if he only cleared it 3 years ago, we've owned the property for 2 years and it's flooded
for 1 year, then he doesn't seem to be offering a very permanent solution to the problem.
Have you ever heard of such a drainage construction? (it's a Jones Homes property built in the late 1960s) Any ideas
how it is supposed to work? E.g. common sense would say why have the pit and the gap in the pipe to allow them to silt up,
why not just build a continuous pipe? And where might the outflow outflow to?
Any help would be very gratefully received. Alternatively can anyone recommend a reliable / experienced drainage
consultant in the Macclesfield, Cheshire area who can help us?
Best regards
