A beginner's guide to DRAINAGE

House drains are something we take for granted but their very existence is one of the basic underpinnings of a civilised society and something that took centuries to develop. City life without drains was not only very smelly, but also very unhealthy, and the growth of cities didn’t really become a possibility until a functioning drainage system was in place.

There are many regulations covering both foul water and rainwater or surface runoff and these can be gleaned from our Building Regulations. All good architects, designers, builders and groundworkers will be familiar with how this work is undertaken, but the ultimate responsibility of what waste goes where is always down to the client paying for the work.

What does a drainage system consist of?

Internally, there is a web of small waste pipes running from sinks, basins, showers and toilets. These all feed into a soil stack, which drops