Drain Overflow?

[moore_ag]

Hello,

I am in a terraced house, the common sewerage drain runs parallel to the house (along the terrace) right out the back of the original house wall , this happens to be now under our conservator floor.

We (being end of terrace) have the joy of the whole terrace flowing though the system and when the system blocks (as it did in Jan) waste seeps from the drain cover, covering our conservatory floor (very nice!). We also have an open drain with grill the kitchen sink, bath, bath vanity unit and outside guttering empty into it (this connects into the main drain). When the main drain blocks, it pushes waste up through this drain also.

The open drain can also block by itself (as happened last night) when the grate holes get filled with crap.

Obvioulsy the main drain cannot be moved, it it would be expensive to move the open drain to what is now the outside of the house.

My question is can both of these drains, the open drain and capped sewarge drain (below the level of the floor) be covered with some sort of vacuum/waterproof cover/encolsure which has its oun outlet pipe that can run off into the garden in the event of an overflow?

I hope this makes sense... Obviously cheaper than moving a drain and would prevent any inside leakage....

Thanks

[sddsddean]

As its 'foul water', you can't just let it run off into the garden. You would have to let it overflow into a septic tank, which you would then have to subsequently have to have emptied (for a fee of course!). Is the drain cover inside your conservatory or outside? If its inside, you can get screw down covers which are more or less airtight (quite often used in public toilets etc). If its outside, I can't see how it floods the floor, as the cover should be at least 6" below the conservatory floor. This could be classed as an environmental health issue, in which case it might be worth getting the council involved. It would be possible to put an 'overflow' pipe at the top of the chamber if its outside, but if its inside it would mean digging up your floor. Tricky to give any good advice when you can't see the situation 'in the flesh'.

[moore_ag]

To clarify its a pre 1937 (public section 23?) drain that runs down the back of the (freehold) property. Yes the main cover is a few inches below the actual floor and when it did flood it flooded under the floor, with waste running outside but also pushed the waste up the smaller open drain also which in turn did cover the floor.

Obviously my solution would been any waste would go outside (preferable) to go inside in the even of a blockage.

Any web links showing these screw down tops referred to?

As the house is freehold, however thames water take responsibility for the drains would we have cause under environmental health issues for them to sort something out?

Rgds

[sddsddean]

I can't find a website with the exact sort of cover I mean, but this is the sort of thing
http://www.manholecovers.co.uk/cover-frames/a1 5-recessed.html
Usually they have a screw in each corner to tighten it down. It is recessed to allow you to lay tiles in it to match your floor, so its not as intrusive.
Regarding Thames Water, I would recommend a 2 prong attack. Have a go at them and your local council. Remember this is what you pay your council tax and water bills for...for them to sort out problems. Good luck.