Blocked foul water sewer pipe on footpath beside my house in an estate

youcancallmeal

As per title. I've rang Irish Water who said they'll take a look at it within 72 hours and let me know if it's their responsibility or considered 'private site' meaning I need to sort it out myself. If we flush a toilet in the house or have a shower then all the foul water is basically bubbling up through the drain covers onto the path and road. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this kind of thing and any tips on what if anything I should do other than wait for Irish Water to contact me back.

Couple of pretty gross pictures so be warned!! Not sure how to spoiler them

Spoiler Warning

Whatwicklow

Are those covers on the public footway?

Dig all

Get a pair of gloves and sewer rods and rod the system. Before you rod make sure you know the way the sewer pipes are flowing. Check the mains sewer manhole first to make sure its clear . If its full you may wait for irish water to have it jetted out. I cleared a blockage for an elderly person last year and got it cleared after a few minutes. Few buckets of water and bleach and it cleans the ajs inside and leaves it nice and clean.

youcancallmeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120232721#Comment_120232721

Yes

youcancallmeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120232762#Comment_120232762

I'll ask around if any friends have a rod that might do the job. Good point about the mains sewer cover, it's not far away but requires a crow bar or something to open it which I also don't have

Dig all

If your rodding always make sure you keep turning rods in clockwise position. Iv seen people loosing rods in sewer pipe and it's disaster to get back out. If the mains sewer is blocked then you won't be able to get it cleared until irish water gets there's done first. How far is the aj from your property. Its strange they put an aj in the footpath. I take it the estate is 15 years built or more.

youcancallmeal

Problem solved. The guy from the council came out and took one look at it and said that's not a sewage mains issue. He very kindly rodded it for me anyway and it quickly cleared. Turns out the aj cover had somehow been damaged and a chunk of it from the underside had fallen down into the drain and caused the blockage. Strange one as there is only a small 2cm hole on the top side but the chunk that came away underneath is significantly bigger. Only way i can picture that damage being done is someone with a rod purposely puncturing the aj cover. Its possible it was damaged during installation when the estate was built 7 years ago and only became a problem now. Anyway all's well that ends well and I know a lot more about our sewage pipes now in case it ever happens again