Calling plumbers & civil engineers

[Pinelli]

Hi all,
Recently moved to a new house, and bought a large, older caravan to take the brood on holidays. While there is room at the side of the house to store the caravan, it's not an easy matter to back it up. There is a sewer drain (I believe) in front of the side gate, and what seems to be an inspection access point a little higher up the slope, perhaps 30cm higher than the sewer pit. There is also a small retaining wall (well, a few rocks) between the two. Pictures below, but the height difference is a little more than it appears in the photos. The stones are a good foot high.

I'd like to remove the rocks and create a gentle slope so I can more easily back the caravan up, but not sure if it is possible to move or lower the inspection point. Is this a council thing, or can I handyman this one?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/935.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/24921/title/img-2589-jpg/cat/1234)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/936.jpg

Anyone here

[p38arover]

There is a sewer drain (I believe)

Is that the word "SEWER" cast into the cover and is the cover screwed down?

The covers on my sewer access points in my garage floor (the garage must be over the sewer llne) are much smaller, are screwed down, and have the letter "S" cast into them.

[Mick_Marsh]

You can't touch it. You'll also find that is an easement there. You can't build anything there so no carports.
Check with your local water supply authority or council. Whoever is in charge of the sewer infrastructure.

[Pinelli]

Thanks Mick. I don't want to build anything over it, just drive over it, and backing a 22" caravan over a 1 foot high rock just ain't much fun :)

P38arover, I'll have to go and check in the morning and see what it says on the cover. If I could just drop the small white access point down by about 6", then I could slope the yard a little better.

[Mick_Marsh]

You can remove the rocks.
The small concrete cover is probably water supply. My guess is if you removed that cover, there will be a valve down there. Sewerage and water are often run side by side.

[jimr1]

I'm sure the rules in Queensland are the same as here in Vic . That you can't do any Plumbing , or drainage work unless you are licensed /registered in that state to do that work . If caught you can and will be fined . Sorry to have to tell you this , but that is the law . What I can tell you is inspection covers are usually built up to the hight of the surrounding ground . In other words they don't stick say 300mm above the ground , or 300mm below . If you can get It open have a look to see how deep It is , It may well be there is room to lower It . DO NOT LEAVE IT OPEN . You can then get a local drainer ,or plumber to lower It for you !!.. Jim..

[slug_burner]

I'm sure the rules in Queensland are the same as here in Vic . That you can't do any Plumbing , or drainage work unless you are licensed /registered in that state to do that work . If caught you can and will be fined . Sorry to have to tell you this , but that is the law . What I can tell you is inspection covers are usually built up to the hight of the surrounding ground . In other words they don't stick say 300mm above the ground , or 300mm below . If you can get It open have a look to see how deep It is , It may well be there is room to lower It . DO NOT LEAVE IT OPEN . You can then get a local drainer ,or plumber to lower It for you !!.. Jim..

In my backyard I have a pipe of about 100mm internal diameter with a cast iron end sticking out about 300mm above the surrounding ground level. The pipe is terminated in cast iron above a concrete sleeve, the cast iron has vent slots in a slightly conical (inverted cone) head with a cover that can be removed. It is the inspection/overflow point for the sewer and the point of delineation of responsibility for maintenance of the sewer between the property owner and the sewer authority. I have seen many other houses with that type of arrangement. I think if the inspection point is not meant to be above or below grade this must be a more modern practice than my suburb.

I can't think of a reason why an inspection point could not be lowered, particularly if it is the last point on your property before joining a trunk sewer.

Many sewer easements have been built over with the approval of the sewer authority as now it is possible to repair sewers without digging them up, inserting a pipe of a modern plastic like material from a point off your property and digging at and angle instead of from vertically above the sewer is also possible. They can also insert a camera on a water pressure powered cart to inspect the sewer, carry out removal of blockages by either blasting with a water jet or through the use of cutting blades.

Slightly off topic as I have digressed. I'd say yes you can have someone lower your inspection point if it is for the sewer as as discussed above.

[jimr1]

Hi slug burner , that cast iron fitting sticking up in you property , is called a Mures Vent . It usually fits at the top of the vertical sewer pipe ,that picks up the horizontal sewer pipe coming from the property . As the name implies It is a vent . They are still installed on some blocks !!.. Jim .:)

[Tank]

That is a Sewer line and the ground that it is buried in belongs to the sewer authority.
You should have it marked on your title deeds, if not ask why your solicitor failed to inform you.
An "Easement" through your property can have an effect on future mortgage deals if it is not marked on your titles, Regards Frank.





Hi slug burner , that cast iron fitting sticking up in you property , is called a Mures Vent . It usually fits at the top of the vertical sewer pipe ,that picks up the horizontal sewer pipe coming from the property . As the name implies It is a vent . They are still installed on some blocks !!.. Jim .:)

[Scouse]

I'd like to remove the rocks and create a gentle slope so I can more easily back the caravan up, but not sure if it is possible to move or lower the inspection point. Is this a council thing, or can I handyman this one?How about a ramp covering/sitting on the steel manhole cover & going up the slope?
Locate it by drilling a couple of small holes in the surrounding concrete & have a couple of corresponding dowels on the ramp - that way it's easily removed if access is needed.

[Mick_Marsh]

How about a ramp covering/sitting on the steel manhole cover & going up the slope?
Locate it by drilling a couple of small holes in the surrounding concrete & have a couple of corresponding dowels on the ramp - that way it's easily removed if access is needed.
He wants to make it level. A ramp doesn't do that.
He doesn't need to change the height of the cast iron cover, just the little concrete one.

If it was me, I'd do the earthworks then get the council/water authority out to adjust the height of the concrete cover.
It may cost.

[Andrew D]

Pinelli

Only repeating some of what has already been noted in earlier posts.

The cast iron lid would be the property of the council.
There would be an easement through the property to account for this line. Most of the neighbours would be passing something through this line
You can with permission from the council build over them.
Parking a caravan there is no problem as it is mobile.
You would need council permission to raise or lower the manhole.
The lid should be noted as 'Sewer' and have a Class A, B, C or D lettering on it most likely C (the class is for loading, A is light, D for road trains etc)

With regards to the small lid.
This would be the I/O from your house. Useful for determining whose pipe work is blocked and therefore who pays.
Licensed residential plumbers work to this point, after that the Council connects to the property.
A licensed plumber can lower these. (Hacksaw and shovel job, not very high tech) (you can handyman this)
I would ask why they have the rocks there though. I think it could be hiding something.

Regards
Andrew

P.S. The IO can consist of a PVC vertical pipe running to the surface with a concrete surround & PVC I/O inspection cover (all purchased from your local hardware).
If the house is older (didn't have PVC) and has earthenware then you will need some masonry bits to cut the pipe. The concrete surround, once you remove the surrounding ground should be able to lift off and be re-used once you trim the pipe to the desired level.

[Scouse]

He wants to make it level.

I'd like to remove the rocks and create a gentle slope so I can more easily back the caravan up,


???

[Mick_Marsh]

???
Well, more leveller, flatter than it is.

[d2dave]

Hi slug burner , that cast iron fitting sticking up in you property , is called a Mures Vent . It usually fits at the top of the vertical sewer pipe ,that picks up the horizontal sewer pipe coming from the property . As the name implies It is a vent . They are still installed on some blocks !!.. Jim .:)

When I lived in Melbourne (Bentleigh) I had one of these. I dug down about two feet,and cut it off.

I then put a a tee in and bought it back to about 50 mm below the surface and capped it then put a paver over it.

From the tee two foot down I then ran a horizontal pipe to the gararge wall about one metre,
reduced it to 50 mm and then ran it up the wall to just past the roof and put a vent cap on it.

All good as it can still be accessed and it is still vented.

[p38arover]

To be honest, I'd dig around it to see if I could lower it myself.

[jimr1]

That is a Sewer line and the ground that it is buried in belongs to the sewer authority.
You should have it marked on your title deeds, if not ask why your solicitor failed to inform you.
An "Easement" through your property can have an effect on future mortgage deals if it is not marked on your titles, Regards Frank.
Hi Frank , you are correct all titles will have a plan of the sewer marked on them . Your plan will also have to block Number , boundary's will also be marked . A visit to the local council will show you your house block plans , plus any Easements !!.. Jim

[Mick_Marsh]

Hi Frank , you are correct all titles will have a plan of the sewer marked on them . Your plan will also have to block Number , boundary's will also be marked . A visit to the local council will show you your house block plans , plus any Easements !!.. Jim
Should also be in the Section 32 or contract of sale document when you bought the property.

[Pinelli]

He wants to make it level. A ramp doesn't do that.
He doesn't need to change the height of the cast iron cover, just the little concrete one.

If it was me, I'd do the earthworks then get the council/water authority out to adjust the height of the concrete cover.
It may cost.

Actually, no, a ramp would be fine. The front yard has a slope to it, which has been cut in to for the sewerage access. So a ramp would be okay, but I would be happy with regrading the slope a little. I just need to know if the access point can be moved or lowered :)