Just noticed the other day out little back yard sems to be constantly flooded just below the level of the shingles

Looks like the washing machine / sink in the utility room is draining into a soakaway which no longer seems to be working.

What worries me is that the soakaway is only about 2 meters from the house (can't be any further as it's only a poky little yard)

Should I dig out a nice bit soak-away and line etc. or should I look at re-routing the waste into the closest drain? Only problem with that is the closest drain is about 1.5m higer than the yard! (yard is lowest point in the area for a good 30 yards min)

I was wondering if I could install an electric pump to the waste which kicks in automatically when in use which could pump the waste water up to drain level? Is there such a thing?

Really don't like the idea of a soakaway that close to the house.

Appreciate any input!

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It ain't allowed to do that.

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Build a soakaway closer than 5m to the house or fit a pump?

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Run waste water into a soakaway.

You can buy Saniflo products that will pump to the higher level.

You may want to consider building a small sump outside, (plastic tank in the ground) should do then drop a sump pump init, should take surface water as well.

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Righto, of course - only soakaways I've ever had anything to do with are for gutters. This entire house is a proper bodge from top to bottom!

Sump sounds like a good idea as the ground is pretty hard / bit clay ridden so I guess I should be surprised this soakaway has lasted this long. So waste to sump then pump to drain? Wouldn't it be better to pump directly to the drain?

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A saniflo will pump the waste water from the washing machine etc but not the surface water, just thought you maybe able to design something that did both job.

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Bit of an idea - the drain looks to be about 600mm higher than the top of the washing machine - would the washing machine drain pump have enough guts to pump the waste up to the drain under it's own steam by extending the machines waste pipe rather than running it into a 40mm waste pipe??

Or would this put too much strain on the W/M and knacker it.?

If that would work then we could just do away with the sink - it's not used much.

Can you guess I don't do plumbing

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No the top of the standpipe should be 33in from the floor.

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Bugger.

Appreciate your help - would love to strangle the sod that fitted out this place!

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I would still look at a small greywater tank or something to collect the surface water as well, them a submersible pump to pump it down the drain.

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