Clearing a flooded basement

Introduction

Our client, a property and facilities maintenance company, asked us to attend site in East London. An undercroft was flooded to a depth of a metre. The water authority had identified a leak which was the partial cause, but could not access the space to conduct repairs until the water level was lowered. While not immediately apparent, the undercroft extended under several buildings including a pub, a six-storey residential block and several retail units.

Method

Through a combination of tankering and overpumping, we were able to lower levels enough to gain access safely. As well as revealing how vast the undercroft was, it revealed a catalogue of problems which would need to be addressed. Due to a collapsed archway sections of the undercroft remained inaccessible.

In addition to the burst clean water pipe, broken and corroded foul pipes were discharging into the chamber and the floor was covered in a thick deposit of waste.

We found the undercroft’s manholes which were blocked with fat and wipes. Through a combination of suction and high pressure jetting we unblocked the line to the main sewer. This allowed the remaining liquid waste to drain away under gravity.

Resolution

A major clean-up operation will remove the solid waste. This will be followed by structural repairs and extensive repairs to the foul and clean water pipework.

Before overpumping the undercroft was flooded to a depth of about 1 metre

Setting up the overpumps

The undercroft after overpumping

The undercroft after overpumping

A blocked manhole

Clearing the manhole (suction)

Clearing the manhole (jetting)

 

FOCUS ON

Undaunted by challenges.

Ours is an industry where problems must be solved quickly, and finding a solution usually requires some detective work. Our dedicated Drainage Engineers have the experience and equipment to solve complex drainage problems.

As a company we respond to challenges positively and decisively.

And it’s important to remember that Edincare Drains can call on Edincare Pumps engineers when specialist pump expertise is required.

For further information or to schedule a visit, contact Neil Cox at ncox@edincare.com or 01442 211554.