Mystery underground drain pipes

[erikwoolf]

We had a drain CCTV done to our Victorian property that showed 2 additional drain junctions that we cannot identify (the 2 Blind junctions noted in the diagram between Gully 1 and Gully 2). They seem to be located towards the front of the property and they dont correspond to any kind of internal plumbing (current or historical from what I can tell) and they definitely don't match the existing external roof drainage. The property is semidetached and in theory they can be serving the next door neighbour's drainage but for that to happen that means that 150 years ago someone made the decision to pass major sewage pipes below the foundation of the 2 properties which sounds risky but my knowledge of drain design in Victorian times is fairly limited. The second picture shows the 2nd Blind junction going into a 45 degrees angle towards the house. Has anyone come across something similar?

 

[Kearn]

A house we got close to buying had similar… my first guess would be that these drains did once serve a purpose, based on an historic layout which could be very well disguised or long lost now in the current config of the building. We found a couple of these which ran just inside the wall before being blocked.

Your cctv survey should have shown what happened at the end of these junctions and how far under the building they travelled, plus any incline.

The other option, highly unlikely of course, but one which we encountered was a similar drainage run going 2.5m under the building and terminating in a large pool. All of which was conveniently covered by a concrete slab floor. In a section of the farmhouse that would have likely been agricultural at that point. We never investigated further as this one of the many reasons we pulled out…!

Assuming you weren’t present, speak to the drainage guys to discuss, after watching the cctv clips. I struggled to see what was going on via the video clips, but speaking to the operator helped!

 

[mattyb]

I would say these likely used to serve a purpose but no longer do. Houses change a lot over the years and the original pipes from not unused toilets, sinks etc just get left.

 

[Stevers]

We had a redundant drain into the manhole before the sewer in the road, and it was obvious once it had been traced that it had once drained a copper in the scullery. As it was in perfect condition I was able to re-direct all my foul drainage into it, by-passing the drains that been damaged when the dugout 'garage' had been extended to take the then owner's Ford Pop. The older the house the more likely that drainage has changed over the years.

 

[malcolm]

I found 3 parallel drains when I dug up a bad junction. One was completely filled with earth and the other spare seemed clear but was no longer in use. I'm sure one of them must have connected to a pipe that went off under the road towards a blockage roughly in the middle of the road. Old drains don't tend to be removed as it's a hassle to dig them up.

My place is an old pub and the beer cellar has moved at least 3 times. There are two unused drains that are bound to be there but I haven't yet located. I'll probably find one of them this winter when I dig up the floor. I'm guessing they went into one of the disused systems.

None of the drains passed under any building that was there at the time. It would be odd to do that. They sometimes moved the drains when adding extensions and I'm sure that's why I have disused systems.

 

[mattyb]

I found 3 parallel drains when I dug up a bad junction. One was completely filled with earth and the other spare seemed clear but was no longer in use. I'm sure one of them must have connected to a pipe that went off under the road towards a blockage roughly in the middle of the road. Old drains don't tend to be removed as it's a hassle to dig them up.

My place is an old pub and the beer cellar has moved at least 3 times. There are two unused drains that are bound to be there but I haven't yet located. I'll probably find one of them this winter when I dig up the floor. I'm guessing they went into one of the disused systems.

None of the drains passed under any building that was there at the time. It would be odd to do that. They sometimes moved the drains when adding extensions and I'm sure that's why I have disused systems.

I bet you dig up all sorts of interesting stuff in an old pub!

 

[erikwoolf]

I found 3 parallel drains when I dug up a bad junction. One was completely filled with earth and the other spare seemed clear but was no longer in use. I'm sure one of them must have connected to a pipe that went off under the road towards a blockage roughly in the middle of the road. Old drains don't tend to be removed as it's a hassle to dig them up.

My place is an old pub and the beer cellar has moved at least 3 times. There are two unused drains that are bound to be there but I haven't yet located. I'll probably find one of them this winter when I dig up the floor. I'm guessing they went into one of the disused systems.

None of the drains passed under any building that was there at the time. It would be odd to do that. They sometimes moved the drains when adding extensions and I'm sure that's why I have disused systems.

Did your survey suggested that there was misaligned that needed to be fixed?
Ours came back saying that in some places, basically where one piece of pipe connects to the next there are displacements and they suggested patch repairs with resin. I am happy to do it, especially because we have a joint drain system for both rain water and sewage but can't tell if it's essential or a nice to have. The company's attitude so far is to return each report with a new set of things that need to be done..