| What is the difference between a Storm Drain and a | | | | somewhere in the region of 1-40. If you have to put a |
| Foul Drain? | | | | bend in the line then place an inspection chamber at |
| Essentially the difference is this. A storm drain | | | | the point where the bend occurs. This will allow you to |
| captures all the runoff water from your roof, from | | | | rod the line easily should anything get blocked at a later |
| your street and garden and takes it away through | | | | date. Also you should place a manhole every 12 |
| pipes to either a main storm drain if you are in a town | | | | metres to conform to good practice. |
| or city or to a land drain, river or lake if you are in a | | | | Plastic pipes are now the most common type of |
| rural area. | | | | drainage used although clay pipes can still be used. |
| A foul drain takes everything else, to a septic tank if | | | | Plastic pipes must be completed covered in and |
| you are living in a rural area or to a main foul drainage | | | | bedded to a minimum of 100mm using 10mm pea |
| system if you are living in a town or city. Foul as the | | | | gravel. |
| word implies includes everything from your bathroom, | | | | The general depth of plastic pipes ranges from |
| toilets, showers, kitchen sinks etc. i.e. all the foul | | | | 450mm in grassed areas to 900mm under drives or |
| substances that are the normal by-product of | | | | footpaths. You are required to place a 100mm cover |
| everyday living. | | | | of concrete to protect the pipes from damage when |
| The general rule with drains both storm and foul is to | | | | laid in these areas. |
| keep it simple. Drains have a tendency to get blocked | | | | The good thing about plastic pipes is that because |
| if there are too many bends, so the idea is to place as | | | | they are all push fit, lightweight and easy to lay, any |
| few bends as possible and to keep the fall | | | | self-builder can lay their own drainage system. |