Downspouts are a type of drainage pipe, which diverts water away from a building’s foundation. They may be simple or decorative, and may lead to a sewer, runoff water drain, or seepway. The first downspouts were installed on the Tower of London in 1240. The building’s whitewashed walls needed protection from rain. Decorative heads are also often added to low-height gargoyles.

Sewer system

The London sewer system has been a long struggle. Millions of tons of raw sewage spilled into the River Thames every year. This prompted the creation of a new sewer system in 1858. The new Thames Tideway Tunnel will run for 25 km under London at depths of 30-60 metres, using gravity to move the waste. It is expected to open in 2024. Plans are also in the works to build a new barrier over the river by Blackfriars Bridge. The barrier will be named in honor of Sir Joseph Bazalgette.

The sewer network in London is vast and includes 2,000 kilometres of brick tunnels and 130 kilometers of main sewers. It also features cathedral-like sewage pumping stations. In the nineteenth century, London’s population numbered around two million, and the city was plagued by cholera epidemics. Unfortunately, the Victorians had no cure for the disease at the time, so they had to rely on the sewer system to keep their city’s population healthy.

Most houses in the UK have two main types of drainage systems. One is the surface drainage system, which collects rainwater and runoff from the roof and downspouts, while the other is the foul drainage system, which collects wastewater from toilets and showers.

Most homes in the UK have a sewer system run by their water company. Ideally, rainwater will enter a gully when it exits the downpipe. Most gullies in the UK are constructed with a bend, which is buried beneath the ground to avoid odours. The gullies are made of PVC or other suitable material, but older properties may have clay gullies.

When rains are heavy, storm drains are overwhelmed and cause basement flooding and street flooding. For this reason, many cities have storm sewers with detention tanks to temporarily store runoff during heavy rains. This prevents the stormwater from flooding the public sewer. Storm drains may also be combined with sewage to prevent overflow.

Water pipe

The pipes that connect downspouts to roof edges are called downpipes. Most downpipes have pushfit connections, but some have brackets and are secured against the wall by pipe clips. The latter are useful for connecting two downpipes in parallel to collect water into a single drain. They are made of different materials. These are available in the market and can be easily identified with the help of online research.

The downspout is a specialized system that diverts water away from the foundation of a building. It may be a simple bend at the bottom of the pipe or may have multiple outlets, including a sewer, a runoff water drain, or even a seepway. The first downspout was installed on the Tower of London in 1240. This was necessary because the building was whitewashed and had to protect itself from rain. Downspouts are often adorned with decorative heads.

There are several types of downpipes, including stainless steel and copper. Stainless steel downpipes are strong and corrosion-resistant, but they cost more. Copper downpipes are popular because of their green color, but they corrode easily when in contact with certain metals.

Click here to learn more about drainage companies derby