Thread: Have A Question About Storm Water Pipes

Originally Posted by 3toes

Not wanting to spend your cash but is the missing link here the ‘proof’ that the pipe is broken and causing the problem?

The proof I have is that the water only flows through the wall when water goes down into his storm water drains , I asked the pool owner to run water down the storm water pipe & within a couple the water was flowing through the retaining wall & there was no water running out the pipe in the street, he than turned the hose off & the water stopped coming through the wall. He did get a plumber in to check & I am told by the house owner the plumber did a smoke test & I do not know what other test he did & reported the pipe is broken in the middle property but did not know where . The pool owner is refusing to get a camera put down the pipe to see what & where the leak is. The plumber never came to our house to check anything as far as I know & if he did I had not been asked if he could enter our property which I would not have refused .

Can the camera enter the pipe from the street, thus bypassing the person refusing to let it enter from the origin?

Originally Posted by windsock

Can the camera enter the pipe from the street, thus bypassing the person refusing to let it enter from the origin?

It can do , but may have to do a 90deg turn once it gets to back of house . I spoke to neighbour in the middle yesterday & he knew nothing of what was going on & he was fine with what I have told him . I am thinking if it geos bad for him & the full cost falls on him I may offer to pay some or all the cost for the camera inspection . I feel for him , he ahs bought the house from the original owners has a young family , we have no idea if the original owner gave permission for the pipe to run through his property or connect to his storm water. People giving permission to allow pipes to run through there property should be told up front if this happens they could be responsible for the repair if it turns out that they has to pay for the repair.

Originally Posted by 1950landy

It can do , but may have to do a 90deg turn once it gets to back of house . I spoke to neighbour in the middle yesterday & he knew nothing of what was going on & he was fine with what I have told him . I am thinking if it geos bad for him & the full cost falls on him I may offer to pay some or all the cost for the camera inspection . I feel for him , he ahs bought the house from the original owners has a young family , we have no idea if the original owner gave permission for the pipe to run through his property or connect to his storm water. People giving permission to allow pipes to run through there property should be told up front if this happens they could be responsible for the repair if it turns out that they has to pay for the repair.

If this is the case, then it's not a 'Lawful Point of Discharge'. Rectification still appears to be the responsibility of the top property.
To be honest, I don't think BCC would be too happy with a 'Private' storm water connection. In 99.99% of the time, any pipes from one property to another need to have an easement over them.

Have you considered the approach outlined in post #18 ..................

"IIRC natural above ground stormwater flow from a higher property is usually acceptable. What is unacceptable from a higher property is concentrated flow - and this is what you'd be experiencing from the broken pipe.
From my understanding of your posts, this broken pipe is draining stormwater from the two private properties above you and as such each of those properties should have an easement for drainage through your property and they would be jointly responsible for maintaining the pipe which is benefitting them, not you.
Maybe you could/should obtain a quote from a plumber/drainer and send it to both of your neighbours with an accompanying letter from your solicitor stating that due to the health hazard caused by their broken pipe that you intend to have it repaired and demanding that they jointly cover all associated repair costs.
Probably a letter to council advising of your action including mention of anticipated increased flows if the new pool is approved and becomes operational would also be worthwhile. It may even draw their attention to the flushing and draining of excess pool water, which should go directly (via the easement and properly functioning drainage pipe) to the street and not into your yard.
It's always better to document dealings in black & white rather than discussing by phone or face to face. And if phone or face to face discussions occur then keep a diary record of them &/or confirm them via email."

Originally Posted by Xtreme

Have you considered the approach outlined in post #18 ..................

"IIRC natural above ground stormwater flow from a higher property is usually acceptable. What is unacceptable from a higher property is concentrated flow - and this is what you'd be experiencing from the broken pipe.
From my understanding of your posts, this broken pipe is draining stormwater from the two private properties above you and as such each of those properties should have an easement for drainage through your property and they would be jointly responsible for maintaining the pipe which is benefitting them, not you.
Maybe you could/should obtain a quote from a plumber/drainer and send it to both of your neighbours with an accompanying letter from your solicitor stating that due to the health hazard caused by their broken pipe that you intend to have it repaired and demanding that they jointly cover all associated repair costs.
Probably a letter to council advising of your action including mention of anticipated increased flows if the new pool is approved and becomes operational would also be worthwhile. It may even draw their attention to the flushing and draining of excess pool water, which should go directly (via the easement and properly functioning drainage pipe) to the street and not into your yard.
It's always better to document dealings in black & white rather than discussing by phone or face to face. And if phone or face to face discussions occur then keep a diary record of them &/or confirm them via email."

I have done all these things & will wait until the council come back to me in next week or so , just got to hope we don't have any big storms before then , although it would be nice to get a video during heavy rain showing how much water is flowing through the wall with one & may be two house roofs feeding into the pipe. I have one with the water flow when the water was being pumped out of the pool already & another when we had 2mm of rain taken at night so bit hard to see.

None of the pipes run through the OP's property (property A.). The neighbour's neighbor (property C.) runs their stormwater pipe through the neighbour's (property B.) to the road gutter.
Each property is higher than its neighbour, ascending from property A.
The pipe from property C is routed through property B (legally or otherwise) and has broken in property B, causing underground seepage into property A.
Property A owner has no authority to commission a plumber to work on property B or C, let alone claim costs.

Thanks for the clarification Ian. I must read posts more carefully in future.

So therefore it appears that the owner of property B needs to get the repair quote and sort out costs/payment with the owner of property A.

It would be interesting to know if the leak/break is U/S or D/S of property B's stormwater. the break could be (and very likely is) at the (non standard/illegal?) junction with property B's stormwater pipe.