Causes
Any sewerage accident means the appearance of holes or fistulas in the pipe. Please note that this process is very slow. The drainage system is gravity-fed; liquids in it do not move under pressure. If a sewer system bursts in a house, it means that no one was seriously concerned about the condition of the pipelines. Pipes cannot collapse without reason. Before the pipeline ruptures, a small leak appears, which gradually increases in size. If plastic pipes are used, the cause may be separation of the joint area. This is possible if the bell is under load. Cast iron elements withstand external loads well, but a sharp blow can destroy both the socket and the body of the pipe itself. in any case, if there was a pipe break, the sewer system was poorly maintained or operated incorrectly.
Finally
The sewer system is necessarily a serious and necessary engineering network for any settlement. Any person has long accepted the sewer system as something familiar and also does not remember where the water goes from the sewer system, but this system is a huge pipeline that ultimately connects to treatment facilities.
Everyone should realize that the condition of the elements of the central network is monitored by appropriate work, but if a problem appears within one apartment or one house, then you will need to solve it yourself, and it is on this basis that you need to monitor the condition of the pipes.
And you can determine even more about how wide the sewer system is and how to behave in an emergency from the video in this article.
What to do
If a sewer breaks, who to call and what to do? The question is not idle, since the contents of the pipes begin to flow into the apartment or basement. Moreover, in a residential area you can quickly detect a problem. In the basement, a leak sometimes persists for weeks until the foul odor forces residents on the lower floors to take action. Situations like this usually take people by surprise. They don’t know where to call, who to turn to for help, what to do.
First of all, you need to figure out where exactly the problem area is. The horizontal supply in the basement and the riser are considered common property and are maintained by the management company. The horizontal part of the apartment sewer system (outlet from the riser) is the property of the apartment owner. This does not mean that the locksmith from the management company will refuse to repair it, but you will have to pay. Restoration of the riser and basement wiring is carried out by them free of charge, as part of their work duties. That is, if problems arise in the apartment or the sewerage system in the basement bursts, it is now clear where to turn - to the Criminal Code.
However, not all so simple. Troubles often happen at the most undesirable moments. For example, on holidays or weekends. In these cases, there is no point in contacting the management company, since there is simply no one there. Who should you call if your basement sewer breaks on a weekend? There is only one answer - to the Vodokanal emergency service. This organization operates 24/7, so you can turn to it in critical situations. True, specialists from Vodokanal will not replace the management company. Usually, they come, turn off the water, and leave. The issue has been temporarily resolved; as soon as business days arrive, full-scale repairs will be carried out by employees of the management company. It is also necessary to notify all residents of the entrance about the problem that has arisen, since they may unknowingly turn the whole situation around.
In some situations, it is possible to solve the problem yourself. If you have problems with the apartment riser, you can install a cuff or install a temporary clamp with a rubber gasket. The sewerage system is a gravity flow system, the drains are not under pressure. It is enough to simply plug any fistula so that the leakage process stops.
Also read: Sewage: treatment system, types, methods
Details
What to do if a pipe breaks inside an apartment
If an emergency occurs inside the apartment, then you must follow the steps according to the day the breakthrough occurred, day or night. If a sewer pipeline breaks during the day on normal days, you should contact the housing department. The company will send a plumber to fix the problem. The owner of the apartment will have to clean up all the consequences after the incident himself.
If breakthroughs occur at night, or on a weekend or holiday, you will have to call an emergency. The emergency crew at the water utility must always work. They send specialists to repair the sewer.
While waiting for specialists, certain actions should be taken to minimize the consequences. Need to do:
1.during this time, you cannot use the sewer system: you cannot flush the water from the tap or toilet.
2. during a breakthrough in a visible place, you can install a clamp in the form of a clamp at the place of the breakthrough. The clamp is represented by a metal ring with a rubber gasket for sealing. After the clamp is put on, you need to tighten the screws to tighten the ends of the clamp. The drains will stop flowing.
3.If there is a small area of the breakthrough, you can seal the hole with plasticine, or use cold welding. The result is a barrier that can hold back the pressure of water for some time.
Attention! If an emergency crew is called in the event of an internal breakthrough, then you will not have to pay, but if in the event of a breakdown in a private house, then you will need to pay for the arrival of a city service team, because the autonomous sewer system is owned by the owner.
What to do during a breakout in the basement of a building
If a leak occurs in a pipeline in the basement of a high-rise building, you should stop the flow of liquid into the apartment risers and inform residents of the impossibility of using the sewer system. Responsibility for the serviceability of general purpose sewer pipes lies with management companies or the housing office. You should first report the problem to this organization. The workers themselves will call a special team to fix the problems. To minimize the consequences of flooding, you should do the same manipulations as during a pipeline break inside an apartment. You should try to close the leak using clamps, plugs, or using cold welding.
Where to complain after an accident
If a break occurred on a pipe in the basement, then the complaint is being written on behalf of all residents. If there is a break in the residential pipeline, with affected neighbors, the situation is different. It is important to understand that if the section of the pipeline running from the valve elements on the pipe leading into the apartment to the common riser is damaged, then responsibility for the problems lies with the management company. The housing office bears full responsibility for those sections of the pipeline that lead to the apartment. All communications within the premises are the responsibility of the owner. Inspections should be carried out on time if pipes need to be repaired. Heating pipes have their own nuances. If the elements of the heating structure have not been changed in the apartment, then the housing department will be responsible for everything.
Attention! If a break in sewerage, water supply, or heating pipes causes damage to your apartment, and the housing department is responsible for this section of the pipeline, then you should demand compensation from them.
If a heating system pipe in an apartment bursts, you can also complain to the housing department. In other cases, the tenant is responsible for the condition of the pipes in the apartment.
How to properly file a complaint
When filing a complaint, nuances must be observed. After eliminating the breakthrough, you need to take a photo or video of the consequences of what happened. Using these photographs, you can demand compensation for damage from the housing department. If refused, you must go to court. For this you will need the following documents:
1. A specialist must come from the housing department to draw up an accident report. If the specialist does not come, then you need to contact the head of the company with a statement indicating the essence of the issue and a request to draw up a report on the fact of the breakthrough.
Attention! After inspecting the apartment, the management company needs to demand a certificate with which you need to go to court.
After submitting the application, a commission headed by an engineer from the management company should come to the apartment; it should also include a foreman on the site, a plumber, and a representative of the housing department. After inspecting the place, they draw up a report on the flood. The documents must contain:
1.description of the essence of the problem with its causes.
2. date of drawing up the act with the address of the apartment.
3.signatures of all members of the commission, surnames and initials, positions are indicated.
4. You should also fill out a special list of defects, which lists damaged property and hidden damage that may appear later.
5.indicate the assessment of the total damage by a special company. Their services are paid. Specialists from the company draw up a report, indicating the cost of damage. Receipts and checks should be attached to the documents.
Attention! If the damage was caused by neighbors, then before filing a complaint in court, you should try to come to an agreement with the neighbors peacefully.
When filing a claim, you need to have a folder with documents ready:
1.copy of a document indicating that you are the owner of the property. You can attach a copy of the rental agreement.
2. a paper with a claim to the court.
3. accident report from the housing department.
4.damage assessment act.
5.general estimate for repair work.
6.receipt for legal expenses.
System breakdown in a private home
If there is a sewerage break in a private house, what should its owner do? The answer is simple - do repairs and eliminate the consequences. Only homeowners are responsible for the condition of sewerage in the private sector. If an autonomous system is assembled on the site, all repair work falls entirely on the shoulders of the residents of the house. If there is a tie-in to a public highway, then some assistance from Vodokanal employees is possible. Perhaps the cause of the accident lies in a common pipe. For example, there was a clog that caused the drains to fill and burst the pipe. However, you should not count on reimbursement of expenses or free elimination of consequences by VK employees. It is necessary to take into account that blockages occur due to illiterate operation of networks, which will be proven in court.
For private home owners, repairing and eliminating the consequences of an accident are not significant problems. Firstly, the number of drains is relatively small. In addition, there is always the opportunity to temporarily stop using the sewer system, without having to run around to negotiate with neighbors. Any repair of pipelines and connections can be carried out without restrictions. This makes restoring the system state a less hassle-free procedure. Even treating a basement after flooding with sewerage is not such a complicated and time-consuming operation, since the area of the room and the volume of wastewater are relatively small.
Search for the culprits
The management company is responsible for breaking the sewer riser
Victims of a sewer break need to know exactly who is to blame for such a situation. The management company and the housing department are responsible only for those sections of the pipeline that are located outside the apartments.
The owner of the property is responsible for the entire internal water supply and drainage system. He will pay for the problems that arise with the neighbors.
If the sewer line breaks in the basement or in a common riser, responsibility for these networks lies with the management company and housing department. A collective complaint is required. When flooded by neighbors, each victim writes his own appeal or amicably negotiates with those responsible for the accident about repairs at their expense.
Elimination of consequences
A sewer break can create various problems:
- drainage from the upper floors entering the apartment. For residents of the lower floors of multi-story buildings, this can be a very sensitive problem;
- basement flooding. In this case, trouble will affect all residents of the entrance, as the bad smell will spread to the upper floors.
If in the first case it will be necessary to eliminate the leak and thoroughly clean the room, then the second problem is much more complicated. Sewage gases, spreading from the basement to the entrance, can cause serious harm to human health. This especially applies to allergy sufferers, the elderly, and children.
A whole range of work will need to be completed:
- pumping out spilled liquid. Here you will have to use sewage disposal equipment;
- cleaning the room from organic residues;
- disinfection of the basement after a sewer break.
Pumping out drains is one of the fastest procedures. It can be completed in a couple of hours (depending on the volume of spilled sewage). To solve the problem, use powerful mud pumps installed on a vehicle with a tank. As the tank fills, the liquid is removed, drained and pumping begins again.
Cleaning the basement is the most unpleasant, but necessary procedure. After pumping out the water, a lot of organic matter and other pipe contents will remain on the floor. If it is not removed, rotting processes will begin and insects and rodents will appear. This cannot be allowed, especially since existing sanitary standards require keeping basements and basements clean.
The last operation is disinfection. This is the treatment of basement surfaces with special means to disinfect the room. Sewage can contain pathogens of any disease, insect larvae, and other unwanted microorganisms. Of all the procedures that a sewer break requires, disinfection is the most important and responsible. Prevention of infectious diseases or the spread of insects is a priority that cannot be abandoned.
Elements of the external sewer system
Any person living in modern settlements and cities equipped with a central sewer system should have at least the slightest idea of what a sewer map is, at least to know where the sewage flows.
To understand the structure of the system, get acquainted with its components:
Yard or intra-quarter underground sewerage system | It is busy receiving wastewater from various buildings and ends in a structure such as a control inspection well, which is located at the junction of the courtyard area with the street one. |
Street underground pipeline | In this area, waste water from courtyards and from local networks of companies and other industrial facilities is planned |
Collectors | An underground network of pipes that collects wastewater coming into it from street, industrial pipelines and courtyards connected to them |
Pool system collectors | These pipes are laid at a reduced level. They transport wastewater that flows into adjacent sewers |
Water collectors | These sewerage sections answer questions about where the water goes from the sewerage system, due to the fact that they carry wastewater from pool collectors to treatment facilities or to the central pumping station |
24-hour assistance service in case of a sewer break
Problems with water supply and sewerage occur quite often.
Most of them occur due to the fault of the users themselves: pipeline blockages occur precisely because of human actions. In this situation, only an emergency sewer service will help, whose specialists will solve all problems, spending a minimum of time on it. When a sewer breaks, many people begin to panic. Of course, there is nothing pleasant in this situation, but with the right and well-coordinated actions, the damage can be minimized.
Only a private emergency sewer system in Moscow can help with a breakthrough and other operational disruptions.
Emergency measures in the event of an accident
There is no reason to remain idle while waiting for the emergency crew to arrive. If you are unable to shut off the riser, you can try to stop the water yourself :
- Apply a clamp with a rubber base: a bicycle tube, a tourniquet, or a glove are suitable for this. Cover the fistula with elastic material, wrap it with thick cloth and secure it with a knot.
- You can limit leakage by using a clamp with the same base, but making it from tin, fastening it with screws or screws.
When working with hot water, use gloves to prevent burns. It is necessary to place containers under the jets that could not be contained - they will reduce the damage caused.
Principles of sewerage design
The instructions for laying waste pipelines provide for laying them parallel to the red building line.
Note! If the entrance is more than 40 m wide, then pipes are laid on both sides of the street.
Let's find out where the sewer goes. The laying of such networks is linked to other underground installations and is located under the widening of sidewalks or under the surface of lawns.
- If there is constant and fairly intense traffic on the streets, then the network collectors are located in a common pipeline tunnel.
- Drains or storm sewer elements are located under the roadway of the street. In this case, the laying of sewer pipes is carried out at the same time as the construction of bridge coverings.
- In places where new buildings are being built that have serious gaps within the block itself between houses or other buildings, sewer collectors are routed through the blocks and not along street entrances.
For laying external sewer networks, massive concrete, asbestos-cement pipes, PVC and reinforced concrete products with a round cross-section are used.
The largest diameter of such pipes directly depends on the materials used for their manufacture:
- Concrete and ceramics – 50 cm;
- Concrete concrete – 400 cm;
- Asbestos cement – 100 cm.
Note! The choice of pipe material for transporting liquid waste is made depending on the aggressiveness of the impact of groundwater, as well as on the composition of the soil itself.
If the sewer network becomes clogged, it must be flushed and cleaned.
- It is for this purpose that the system is equipped with inspection wells in places where the diameter of the system changes, pipeline slopes, turns, as well as in fairly long sections of networks with a single diameter.
- In places where networks intersect with rivers, ravines, railway tracks, etc., overpasses or siphons are installed:
- Drains are products that can function under the natural pressure of escaping wastewater.
- An overpass is a bridge that covers obstacles under which a pipe is laid in a metal box at an angle.
Sewer pipe failure - what to do?
A burst sewer riser is considered the most dangerous and unpleasant factor that can happen in an apartment or private building.
The reason is that in such a situation the room will be flooded not only with water, but with what passes through the sewer pipes.
In this case, the usual wiping of water and drying things is not enough. It is for this reason that it is extremely important in such an emergency to do everything as competently as possible.
So, what to do if a sewer pipe bursts? You need to do the following:
- First of all, you need to call a specialist to your home. If the accident occurred during the day, the call is made to the housing office; if on holidays, weekends or at night, you need to contact the emergency service staff.
- Until professionals arrive, there is no need to pour any liquid down the drain. During the waiting period, it is better to go to your neighbors, explain the situation to them and ask them not to use the sewer system for a while.
- If possible, you can stop the flow of waste water before the technician arrives. For this purpose, it is enough to simply temporarily clog the pipe by wrapping it with rags or using other available means. If the breakout site is small, you can get by with a piece of plasticine or ordinary polyethylene.
- Next, you need to act according to the standard scheme, that is, it is mandatory to record the damage, the breakdown itself and its causes. This is done through drawing up an official act.