Hi, we were evaluating a property for a family member and found out that sewer mains (355 PE) run beneath it.
I was surprised there are no recorded easements for these pipes, and we have been informed that the sewer mains are approximately 15 meters below the surface and were installed later using micro-tunnelling, after the property was already built.
Given this situation, would you consider buying the property or would you advise against it?
Thank you!
I have similar to you - (although with me, it was mentioned prior to purchasing the house).
no big deal - but always on your mind.
I would'nt sweat it … nor lose sleep.
Really only a concern if want to do renovations/etc … in years to come.
Really only a concern if want to do renovations
Why?
If owner wants to do a Shawshank or cosplay El Chapo
Thanks @simplystu
Since it was installed after the building was constructed, could it pose a problem for renovation or rebuilding?
not sure.
but best to speak to a conveyancing lawyer … who can LEGALLY give you info that you require - rather than take any advice from JV.
When I purchased my house - despite said sewer drain underneath property … I got everything in writing.
Sure, will check with conveyancer
It's 15 meters below the surface
right where the GRABOIDS live
yer….. good try but no.
have a read of the sydney water technical guidelines regarding sewer lines
@ 15m it would never impact any normal residential building unless you were digging a 15m well right above it
"Technical guidelines: Building over and adjacent to pipe assets" https://www.sydneywater.com.au/plumbing-building-developing/…
Also a negotiation tool to get the price down
Seller will be well aware and of the negative consequences too !
Yeah right! 15m below ground surface … who gives a crap?
ooh JV … why may you ask?
well JV - since you take the time to quickly post 10000's of forum Msgs' … will leave you with this reply.
Google.
Rent free
If it's a pressure main you could get vibration when the pumps run. At 15m deep there's no way they'd be digging them up. Any repairs would be done remotely.
Thought so as it was installed remotely using micro tunneling. Thank you ! We are worried of what if it breaks. I know probably they can put a new one remote but will it cause any structural damage to the property ? If I am reading the diagram correctly, it is encased in concrete.
Asked the other half - says would be for stormwater or sewer, likely transfer. At 15m down, you're not likely to notice it. However, in SA, they dont put pressured systems under houses for a multitude of reasons (collapse, leaks, access for repairs etc). Obviously other states have different rules.
Thanks! It is a sewer line and in NSW. Am I right to assume it is not a pressured system as it is sewer ?
Opposite, at that depth they wouldn't be running gravity, it's a transfer line between treatment plants. Gravity mains are generally a couple metres deep and run in PVC not PE.
Enjoy the knowledge that thousands of poops are zipping along under you. I'd want to know which direction the poops are flowing, so you can Feng Shui your home accordingly.
Good point ! Thank you ! Probably this will put of a lot of future buyers
Why?
If it is not Feng Shui compliant
Shit happens.
I would considering buying the property but with $50K less my intended budget. Use the shit pipe as your negotiating tool
No chance in hell. It's so deep it will never cause an issue. It will never be dug up. It would either be relined or diverted with a new parallel horizontal bored line if, in the very rare event, something goes wrong with it.
No chance for what?
No chance you will negotiate a $50k discount because of a poop pipe 15m underground.
@MS Paint: Bit premature to call it no chance when it hasn't been proven. Until you are the buyer that goes thru the sale process, the owner could have listed it for years with no interested buyers. Anything can happen. I agree chance is slim for a direct $50k discount for sewer being 15m deep. But I'm giving my opinion I would personally budget $50k less in this scenario
15m below the surface……lol, no bargaining chip on that one chief
if anything it looks like sydney water has upgraded the sewer infrastructure in your area and you should pay more for such modern services
Do you have a paddle? Nothing worse than being in that situation without a paddle.
Tinny on standby mode
15m you won't even notice it….
probably a higher chance of your house being hit by a plane door than the sewer system wrecking havoc.
even then, that's what home insurance + sydney water paying for it is for
Will home insurance pay if something goes wrong for sewers that deep ? Any idea if it is part of standard cover or we need additional Flood cover ?
I am not sure if Sydney water will bear the cost if something goes wrong
your taking the piss now surely
Flood coverage?
This is ozbargain, not sure your conveyancer nor your home insurance specialist. You need to speak to them.
15m is like a 4 storey home.
You'll probably only need about 6 feet to bury whatever you need to bury back there, so 15 metres is fine.
Definitely don't worry about it.
Probably not a problem unless you wanted to install an Olympic diving pool over the top.
Sydney Water Easement Guidelines
require easement over all pressure mains, so it’s highly unlikely to be a pressure main.
If it’s a gravity main, it won’t burst. If it blocks it will surcharge at the upstream manhole or at a designated relief point. It would never generate enough pressure to make its way to the surface at your block.
Unless you’re planning on drilling for oil or digging a mine, just forget it’s there.
(Ps: trust me - I’m an engineer at Sydney Water)
Thank you so much !!
I spoke with the conveyancer today, and they confirmed that the pipe is approximately 430 meters long and is a gravity main, which exactly is with what you mentioned.
Just for my understanding, can Sydney Water undertake micro-tunneling under any property as long as it's deep enough, simply by giving landowners some notice? Is that typically how they proceed with such projects, or is there a more extensive consultation process involved?
Putting new mains under or through private property is avoided if possible, particularly for large trunk mains. For shallower mains that may impact on building, there’s compensation. Sydney Water Act Part 41.
There is a consultation process that can be quite extensive. But if it breaks down, the Sydney Water Act does give Sydney Water the ability to acquire all or part of a property.
Thanks !!
Oh crap…