toilet cistern overflow outlet

[ianess]

is there any reason why the overflow cannot be plumbed directly into the basin outlet pipe thus cutting out the need for a hole in the outside wall?

[smudge]

You would be looking for trouble! What if the overflow pipe from the basin became blocked, you'd have an indoor flood. I know what I'd prefer! (I'm sure that's what my husband would have said anyway, so I hope I'm right).

[Maude]

Building Regulations not only do not permit this but are actively against such an arrangement. Overflows must be such that a weep is readily visible, and ideally placed so that a weep is also a nuisance thereby causing a repair to be speedily effected.

[ianess]

Thanks for the answers but I don`t really see that it`s any different to a leaking tap draining away. It is after all clean mains water supposedly fit for drinking, and not sewage. I actually thought that the rules had been relaxed since we joined the EU. Aren`t some laws and regulations totally confusing?

[Maude]

The problem is also one of contamination and contravention of the Water Bd regs. If you had a continuous weep it is theoretically possible for germs to travel from the drains upstream and contaminate the whole water supply. However, if it is important to you if it is a low level upstairs cistern it is possible to plumb the overflow to an open fronted drip-box (about 100mm highx50mmx50mm) sited at eye level above a downstairs sink (if the cistern is low level downstairs you would have to change it to a high level and do the same). It requires a chat with your Building Inspector to obtain a dispensation, but they are not usually difficult about it.

[wildwood]

I suspect that an overflow is 'uncontaminated waste water' like roof/street drainage, which is returned to the environment untreated. Basin/sink/bath waste goes to the sewage treatment plant, and they don't want to stretch the treatmentplant resources.

[GuavaHalf]

check out the answers here too. http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question53129 .html

[ianess]

Thanks for that GuavaHalf. Also to Wildwood....in this neck of the woods all bath,basin and washing machine outlets empty into the rainwater downpipe. Only the toilet has its own separate waste pipe. I`m almost as confused as ever I was.

[Maude]

If you are in the UK, is8748, and your last post is true, then you are highly illegal and at risk of an open ended fine and/or a custodial sentence. All sink and bath wastes and anything conveying foul water or material must by long established and actively policed law empty into a soil drainage system. Only rainwater can go into a piped stormwater system or to a soakaway. In this area an Enforcement Officer would commence criminal proceedings against you and simultaneously issue an "unfit for habitation" notice requiring the property to be vacated until the drains were sorted out, and if you have been emptying foul material into a soakaway the whole of the contaminated ground area would have to be excavated and removed to an approved tip. Discharging foul water into a soakaway also causes the acquifer to become contaminated and I know of 2 cases where adults and children some distance away became ill as a result and in both cases the police arrived just in time to stop the culprits from being lynched. It is no wonder that you are confused - you are in a mess and need help.

[ianess]

Just to keep this very interesting conversation going, perhaps I should have said that both of my downpipes are connected to the main sewer, so that ANY waste leaving my house whether it be from inside or from rainwater guttering, goes directly to the sewage treatment works. There are literally hundreds of houses operating this system so I feel that Maude`s comments may be a bit wide of the mark. Any further info would be much appreciated.

[Maude]

You are babbling; you do not have the faintest idea of what you are talking about. It is equally illegal for stormwater drains to discharge into a foul system for the simple reason that the necessary open gulleys at ground level which are part of every stormwater system would ventilate (and overspill) foul drainage into people and spread pestilence and disease. Also the rainwater pipes at the gutter would ventilate too low down and allow pestilence and disease into a dwelling via the upstairs windows. That is why the soil drains are sealed all the way back up to the top of the soil and vent stack which ventilates much higher up a roof. You really do need help.

[ianess]

In reply to Maude please don`t let this degenerate into personal comments. I am the first to admit that I am not a plumber and that I don`t have much of a clue or else I wouldn`t be asking what looks like stupid questions. I can only state what I can see all around me and if I`m doing something illegal then so is the entire local population. The reason for the question is that I don`t know the answer if that`s not stating the obvious. I only really started this off by asking about a toilet overflow pipe which is going to be diverted because of a new conservatory being built under it. Please let`s remain civilised.

[Tweed]

If the overflow was plumbed directly into the basin, you'd never know when you had a problem (unless you could hear the trickle of water), and would waste a lot of clean water. You could use a funnel known as a tundish which will allow you to detect an overflow in this situation.

[ianess]

OK........thanks a lot folks. I`ll leave it to the professionals but I seem to have stirred up a hornet`s nest. Sorry if I`ve upset anyone.