Thread: Calling plumbers & civil engineers

Originally Posted by Pinelli

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

Originally Posted by 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..

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.

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 .

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.

Originally Posted by 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 .