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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:34 pm
by steve_f
Hi there. I'm thinking of getting a herringbone style French drain installed in the garden.
Can I connect this system to the public surface water sewer that is on my property?
If so, would a 1 in 100 fall be enough? I'm in the UK by the way.
Many thanks
Steve
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:24 am
by Dave_L
Most certainly the answer will be no!
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:54 am
by lutonlagerlout
^^ 100% no no no
you need to dig a soakaway 5 M from a building and have your land drains run to that
LLL
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:26 am
by steve_f
Thanks guys.
I'm at my wits end, I keep getting told to install french drainage to fix my issues with heavy clay, but I'm also being told that soakaways don't work in clay 
I'm going to talk to Thames Water to see if I can get a legitimate drain installed at the end of the garden at my own cost, connected to the public surface water drain\sewer then I can have a landscaper taper the garden towards it so water goes there.
Does that sound like a plan? I'm keen that any installation makes the property easier to sell, don't want any dodgy installations blocking a sale.
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:08 pm
by Tony McC
It'd be interesting how you get on with Thames Water. I probably can guess their answer, but still, hearing my prejudices confirmed can't hurt, can it!
What you refer to as a "French Drain" can only work if there is somewhere for the water to go, which usually means a soakaway, a ditch or some other watercourse. Many gardens are effectively 'land-locked' and unless you get a bunch of neighbours to club together and install a system which traverses several properties to wend its way to a suitable outfall, then there's little chance of spiriting away the groundwater on your property.
Of course, some very naughty and ill-advised people divert land drains to the SW system and never tell anyone about it. This is anti-social and places an unwarranted burden on the public sewer system, but it does happen. I'm sure you are not a naughty person!