Shower draining into garden

loveisdivine

Just a query re drainage of our shower.

It came to our attention today that our shower drains into a pipe that runs about 10 metres out of the house, into the garden, then stops. It's no more than a foot under the ground and when my husband was showering today, the area around the end of this pipe was becoming completely flooded.

We had a higher pressure system installed in January, so there is more water going down that drain now, which is probably why it's suddenly more noticeable that it's flooding.

Is this normal? Shouldn't the shower just drain into the septic tank like everything else?

I can't have a portion of the garden becoming flooded every time someone takes a shower. The previous owners had just put a slab over the end of the drainage pipe and then a few inches of soil/stone mix.

Also, it must be bad for the environment to have all the showering products just soaking into the ground? Both ourselves and all our neighbours are on our own wells, so that must be a concern too?

The shower pipe comes out of the house right next to the main sewerage pipe that runs to the tank, so it shouldn't be a big job for a plumber to direct it into that instead. Would that be the best solution?

dazed+confused

This is common enough among tightwads that want to reduce the flow to their septic tank in order to reduce the amount of times it will have to be emptied.

It is however totally illegal and extremely bad practice. The correct solution is what you have outlined above.

the_pen_turner

dazed+confused wrote: »

This is common enough among tightwads that want to reduce the flow to their septic tank in order to reduce the amount of times it will have to be emptied.

It is however totally illegal and extremely bad practice. The correct solution is what you have outlined above.

this is completely untrue. adding water like that would not increase the amount of times it needs emptying.

it would depend on when the house was built whether it would be illegal for it to not be in the septic tank. you would only need to comply with the regs at that time and not now unless you redid it

its not right the way it is now . you will have to pipe it around intot he septic system

tradesman

The pipe needs to be put to the septic tank. The flooding could be down to a blockage at your "soakpit" or the ground is so wet due to the bad winter that it cant soak anymore. A septic tank will always be full ...it needs to be full inside to reach the outlet pipe

loveisdivine

Thanks, I've emailed our plumber this morning so hopefully he can pop out soon enough and sort it.

loveisdivine

What type of tradesperson should I be looking for to do this job? I got in touch with the company that fitted out new shower and sorted a few other drain issues but apparently they can't help in this situation and recommended a groundsperson.

Metric Tensor

Put it into the septic tank OP - it is the correct thing to do. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

If this was done with the shower I'd also look to see where the kitchen sink, washing machine and other similar pipes terminate. There's a high chance the same thing was done with them.

They should also go to the septic tank but the kitchen sink and dishwasher should go through a grease trap first.

Metric Tensor

"Groundworks" or "Civil Works" would be the technical terms.

What you are probably looking for is the local "digger man" or guy with a mini-digger to dig the trenches and then if he's capable of setting levels etc ask him to do the pipework too. If not you need someone who can level and install sewer pipes.

You could probably do it yourself with a bit of time and effort, dig the trenches by hand or with a rented mini-digger than rent a laser level and buy pipes from the local builder's providers. It's not rocket science but like everything else the first time you try it'll take four times as much time and twice as much money as you think!

Ideally an engineer should advise you on slopes and connections, etc. if you have one handy!

loveisdivine

Thanks, I’ve checked the kitchen sink and washing machine as I had the same concern. They both go into a drain at the front of the house and after running the taps I can see the water flowing down into the main drain at the back of the house so, thank god, that part seems ok!

I’ve attached a picture of the shower pipe next to the main drain, surely we shouldn’t need to dig any trenches or anything, it’s literally a foot away!

I could probably dig down myself and try to direct the pipe but I’m not confident doing it.

That’s the shower pipe on the left.

http://imgur.com/HtDTMJW

Turbohymac

I never pipes either of my houses directly into septic tank. .. a grease trap for washing machine and shower . But allowing detergents/shampoo etc into a septic tank is a recipe for disaster. Usually if no bleach /chemicals are used in toilet . And Only toilets inmo should go into septic tank it should build up bacteria which will/should take care of solids. Al cleaner liquid will then head out to percolation area and if tank is working properly should rarely need emptying.. it's a lot different for mains sewage systems. But I learned the hard way with percolation area etc getting clogged up with left over residue from sinks. Washing machines etc.. so only allowed toilets to septic tank nothing else. No problem since then. And didn't empty with last 6 years ..if they need emptying very often then there not functioning as designed

loveisdivine

Turbohymac wrote: »

I never pipes either of my houses directly into septic tank. .. a grease trap for washing machine and shower . But allowing detergents/shampoo etc into a septic tank is a recipe for disaster. Usually if no bleach /chemicals are used in toilet . And Only toilets inmo should go into septic tank it should build up bacteria which will/should take care of solids. Al cleaner liquid will then head out to percolation area and if tank is working properly should rarely need emptying.. it's a lot different for mains sewage systems. But I learned the hard way with percolation area etc getting clogged up with left over residue from sinks. Washing machines etc.. so only allowed toilets to septic tank nothing else. No problem since then. And didn't empty with last 6 years ..if they need emptying very often then there not functioning as designed

But allowing all those chemicals to just leech into the ground is fine?

Metric Tensor

Turbohymac wrote: »

I never pipes either of my houses directly into septic tank. .. a grease trap for washing machine and shower . But allowing detergents/shampoo etc into a septic tank is a recipe for disaster. Usually if no bleach /chemicals are used in toilet . And Only toilets inmo should go into septic tank it should build up bacteria which will/should take care of solids. Al cleaner liquid will then head out to percolation area and if tank is working properly should rarely need emptying.. it's a lot different for mains sewage systems. But I learned the hard way with percolation area etc getting clogged up with left over residue from sinks. Washing machines etc.. so only allowed toilets to septic tank nothing else. No problem since then. And didn't empty with last 6 years ..if they need emptying very often then there not functioning as designed

The logic is completely flawed - you want your treatment tank and percolation area to work properly in order to treat the waste to a high standard and the way you are going about that is to put over half your waste directly into the ground with no treatment?

It is also illegal!

Metric Tensor

loveisdivine wrote: »

Thanks, I’ve checked the kitchen sink and washing machine as I had the same concern. They both go into a drain at the front of the house and after running the taps I can see the water flowing down into the main drain at the back of the house so, thank god, that part seems ok!

I’ve attached a picture of the shower pipe next to the main drain, surely we shouldn’t need to dig any trenches or anything, it’s literally a foot away!

I could probably dig down myself and try to direct the pipe but I’m not confident doing it.

That’s the shower pipe on the left.

http://imgur.com/HtDTMJW

I didn't realise it was that close - that's a piece of piss the fix. You mightn't do a perfect job yourself but you'll do a good enough one!

Turbohymac

No. I have a separate grease trap for washing machine ..showers etc then a separate percolation area.. just went on my engineers advice when building.
I think he knows best. No pollution.. unlike a lot of our seaside towns where raw sewage gets discharged into the sea.. hope this clears up any misunderstandings

Metric Tensor

The grease trap only collects grease - it should go into the septic tank after that to treat he contaminants.

If the grease trap is working correctly then the effluent continuing from it into your septic tank should not clog or affect either it or your percolation area.

BryanF

Turbohymac wrote: »

I never pipes either of my houses directly into septic tank. .. a grease trap for washing machine and shower . But allowing detergents/shampoo etc into a septic tank is a recipe for disaster. Usually if no bleach /chemicals are used in toilet . And Only toilets inmo should go into septic tank it should build up bacteria which will/should take care of solids. Al cleaner liquid will then head out to percolation area and if tank is working properly should rarely need emptying.. it's a lot different for mains sewage systems. But I learned the hard way with percolation area etc getting clogged up with left over residue from sinks. Washing machines etc.. so only allowed toilets to septic tank nothing else. No problem since then. And didn't empty with last 6 years ..if they need emptying very often then there not functioning as designed

What you are suggesting does not comply with building regulations

OP please ignore this advice

Turbohymac

Hi..brian f . If you even bother to read all of my 2 posts I initially had my showers etc going to septic tank but soap etc clogs up percolation area. So after consulting with engineer put showers and washing machine through large grease trap and desperate percolation area. Now NO issues.
Bugger the. building regs.. any comments on the raw untreated sewage in towns entering /pumped into bays.. sure seems you're more experienced than my engineer. Why don't you advise the op to pipe a few washing machines and all into the septic tank and have an outdoor bog instead of a garden.. plane stupid. Depending on their house size.amount of people residing and ground /percolation conditions we cannot all read from the same rule book. But we can still be responsible and avoid pollution

T-Maxx

I hope your 'engineer' has adequate PI insurance...

Markcheese

Most of the detergents and bleach people just put down the sink/washing machine/ toilet play havoc with a septic tank or treatment system ...
But the public like to flush and forget..