Quick Plumbing Question
 

o.k one for the plumbers/tradespeople of the org,

Is it legal for the drain from the kitchen sink to run into the rainwater pipe?

The outlet for the kitchen sink goes outside then straight into the open drain. My dad who used to work for the waterboard thinks this isn't right.
The house is about 10 years old.

Anyone any the wiser?

Cheers

Si

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Does this "rainwater" pipe run to a soakaway,or is it part of the main sewer system.
Where else is it ment to go?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Naughty naughty, your dads correct.

Foul cant go into the private surface water system...
But its not unheard of that during construction they builders will tap a surface water pipe into a soil vent pipe.

Does the vertical pipe take the toilet etc from upstairs or is it straight down from the gutter into a gully trap?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

I dunno, my dad reckoned rainwater and dishwater (don't know the proper name) were supposed to be kept seperate?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Not sure Matt, will finding out involve me getting mucky and or possibly smelly?

I shall take a picture and post it up at some point :)

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

are you near the offending pipe right now? MMS me a pic of it an I'll tell you.

Doesnt much matter anyway, the drain police wont come after you ;)

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

some rainwater pipes do run into the mains sewers .

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

o.k cool thanks mate, you'll have to text me first, my iphone screen fell out so i am on some ancient piece of garbage with no numbers.. d'oh.

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Did my message scare ya?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Old houses had combined systems, modern houses have seperate systems, but Matt is correct, only rainwater must go in storm drains as it is treated less than foul water.

I've seen this in loads of houses, some people just don't care.

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Yes Matt i poo'd my pants!

Specialone, if it is wrong, can it be easily fixed?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

depends on the existing infrastucture, if there is only a combines system then it is fine to go onto the rainwater gully as this all goes down the same pipe to the treatment plant at the end of the day,

if there is a separate system it should be separated.

Don't sweat it though

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

A Millers Home?

Image recived;
Thats a back inlet gully (BIG), it has no rainwater down pipe connection its just the kitchen 40mm outfall into a gully trap. It does allow for some surface water to discharge through it (but not in your case as its surrounded by gravel anyway. They're fairly standard on modern housing but the majority of them will be coupled with a Soil Vent Pipe (SVP) which is the vertical pipe you see extends above the guttering and thats what your poopy from the toilet usually discharges down. The fact yours doesnt have the SVP means nothing, its just as legit.

IE CHILL PAL - SAAAALLLL GUUUUUUDDD

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

our house has the same, the bathroom (not toilet just bath/shower & sink) goes into the same drain as the sink and washing machine from the kitchin, along with guttering from the back of the house!

Our place is 150 odd years old tho! is this ok? or should it be changed?

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

If you have any work done by builders or the like they are probably obliged to bring it up to code, otherwise leave it.

When our extension went on three years ago the rainwater soakaways were all of three feet from the house. Current regs say much further (in our area rainwater does not go into the sewer pipe) so a new soakaway had to be added.

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

Storm water soakaways are normally 5 metres minimum from the house / extension wall, depends on the slope as well I think.

1m cube hole filled with fabric and shingle, job done.

As Matt said as long as the gully is connected to the foul water drain, then your 40 mm waste is fine.

Re: Quick Plumbing Question
 

o.k thats alright then, thanks to everyone for their replies and to Matt for letting me send you pictures of my drains! :)