Drainage Question

[Spoonboy90]

This isn't really related to Home Cinema but i'm hoping one of you fine fellows will be able to help.

We have in our garden two inspection covers for the drains, I know I can't go covering over them and need to provide access to them but firstly who exactly am I obliged to allow access too them and secondly is it possible to have them removed or get the access rights removed?

[Jamo218]

Are you planning on covering them with something?

[wingnut121]

7.01 ACCESS TO DRAINS
Access may be provided by (non-man-entry) inspection chambers or (man-entry) manholes depending on the
depth at which the drain is laid The guiding principle in the location of manholes or inspection chambers is
that they should be so situated as to allow every length of drain to be accessible for maintenance inspection
and removal of debris The layout should, in general, be designed to satisfy the above principle but in the
interests of economy the number of access points should be kept to a minimum. The distance between access
is listed in the Table in section 1.6 “Access to drains”.
In general, manholes or inspection chambers should be provided in the following situations:
1. At all changes of direction on drains (except for drains where the change in direction is
not too great for cleaning).
2. At all changes of gradient on drains (except for drains where the change in gradient is
not too great for cleaning).
3. At all drain junctions where cleaning is not otherwise possible.
4. On a drain within 12m from a junction between that drain and another drain. unless there
is an inspection chamber situated at that junction.
5. At the head of each length of drain.
6. At all changes in pipe diameter.

so there is nothing saying you must, and your sewage pipes under your property are your responsabilaty, there is a reason for inspection chambers and they are above, but i would recormend you move one and have at least some access if they do get block for rodding etc.

[Spoonboy90]

Originally Posted by Jamo218

Are you planning on covering them with something?

No immediate plans to cover them no, its just that when i got in this evening there was a note through my door from the house behind saying they had a problem with the drains and he needed access to them.

[thefathacker]

I think I'm right in saying access rights will be as defined in the deeds and no, you won't be able to get them removed if that is the case. (Unless you can get the oher party to agree which seems pretty unlikely!) I live in a 1950's gaff and our drains have a shared inspection point. My neighbour can come onto our land for drainage reasons and I can go onto his for maintenance of a wall.

If they are blocked - best let whoever in - otherwise pretty soon you could have **** bubbling up through the manhole covers and cleaning that up wouldn't be worth any access denial!

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by Spoonboy90

We have in our garden two inspection covers for the drains, I know I can't go covering over them and need to provide access to them but firstly who exactly am I obliged to allow access too them and secondly is it possible to have them removed or get the access rights removed?

First of all do the inspection covers serve your house as well as your neighbours.

If they do and I`m sure they will why would you want to get them removed as they will serve a good purpose not only for you but your neighbours as well when/if the drains block up.

Also is one a surface water drain and the other for sewage, you ought to find out.

Lets just say you had them removed, how would you go about unblocking "your" drains, probably by asking the neighbour you had them removed to, if he let you.

All I`m trying to say is this, I doubt you would be able to get them removed and if you did expect a bill into the £1000`s.

Consider the implications caused to yourself by doing this let alone the big hole in your bank balance and is it that big a deal to allow your neighbours access or is their some sinister reason you haven`t told us why you`d rather not have him on your property.

[Spoonboy90]

As far as i can make out by opening the covers, they both run parallel with the house in the road and both t-off under the garage to the front of the house/road.

Not sure what either of them is for but one of them would be in the way if I wanted to add a conservertory in the future.

I've no real problems with letting my neighbour access the property and it turns out that the inspection covers in my garden are nothing to do with his drainage system anyway, my main concern about 3rd parties whom i've not appointed accessing my property, would you want just anyone in your house?

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by Spoonboy90

As far as i can make out by opening the covers, they both run parallel with the house in the road and both t-off under the garage to the front of the house/road.

Not sure what either of them is for but one of them would be in the way if I wanted to add a conservertory in the future.

I've no real problems with letting my neighbour access the property and it turns out that the inspection covers in my garden are nothing to do with his drainage system anyway, my main concern about 3rd parties whom i've not appointed accessing my property, would you want just anyone in your house?

Could you do a simple drawing of where abouts the house/conservatory/roads/garage are situated so we can get a better idea.

If its just a straight run to move the inspection chamber to somewhere which is not in the way of the conservatory base then its not a major issue as long as its still on your property. Moving it to outside your boundary if you got the permission which I would doubt would really cost an arm and a leg trust me.

When you say "would you want anyone in your house" surely they don`t physically have to enter your house do they to check the drains or do they.

As I said a simple drawing would make things a little clearer.

[Spoonboy90]

You said simple

And yes access to the garden is either through the house or at the moment garage but i'm half way through converting that to an office.

Space in the garden for movement is limited but the front drive would be an ideal place from my point of view but im guessing they are where they are now because of the t-off in direction!

[yukichon]

If you want my advice then its simple.....always keep access , if they back up or you have an issue its a must . I have recentlyhhad my drains back up 3 times during my project and i dont have a manhole on my property so im having all my drains renewed , dug up and amanhole put in ..... its a pain in the arse and a huge mess....keep the manholes i say !

This is what not having a manhole has cuased , it was lovely decking !

[albriscoe]

your right

they are where they are because of the T offs.

is the top one on the drawing going to interfer with the conservatory base, I take it you could be going full width of the house.

If so then you will have a slight problem, it could be moved to the left so its behind the other one and then you will have to continue the pipework to existing, then fit a rodding eye OUTSIDE OF THE CONSERVATORY BASE behind the T point so you can rod both ways if you know what I mean. A rodding eye is quite small as well so easy to install.

When you dig out for the base this can all be done at the same time to save mess and upheaval.

One point to remember is when the footings for the new base cross the pipework the brickwork above must be supported with concrete lintels as it crosses the drains, not a big or expensive job this though.

If its gonna be a double skin dwarf wall for the con you will need 4 lintels to support each wall and its cheaper to buy one long one and cut it to length with a still saw. 50 quid will do that easy.

Hope thats helps you mate and if you need to ask owt else fire away

cheers Al