Sewage Leak

[Jersey123]

Morning - I am after some advice if anyone can help at all. 3 days ago after 2 weeks on holiday we can home to find a sewage leak in our flat. The toilet had overflowed and raw sewage pumped into the whole apartment and had been sitting there for several days.
We live in a 4 year old block of flats and are on the second floor, we have been told by the management company who look after the maintenance there was likely a blockage just below us and the pressure built up and our toilet was the nearest release point.
I guess what we are trying to find out is how can this happen, especially in a new build apartment block. We have never thrown anything down the toilet that shouldn’t go down there, and there was no smells or issues at all when we went away.
If anyone might know of any reason this could have occurred it would be much appreciated

 

[WC1]

Sometimes these things happen just by chance - wet wipes are a major cause, make sure all your neighbors know not to put wet wipes down the pan - not even "flushable wipes" (there is no such thing).
However, as it's a new build get a cctv survey of the main waste pipework to check for burrs or misalignment - go as far as you can up and down stream of your apartment.

 

[Deleted member 120897]

I had it once where roots were blocking the drain, albeit the drains were older type not pvc. So as per @WC1, likely a big blockage somewhere.

 

[oz-plumber]

Very odd on a second floor apartment.
As for the age of the building, it is really a non issue - it happened or ( should I say **** happened )

Demand the issue is thoroughly investigated, repaired and demand full reports on the issue and what repairs were done.

My main concern would be for you that the building Body Corporate has enough insurance for you to be placed in other accommodation while your place is stripped and repaired.

I hope you have enough photos, because everything that was flooded or coated with sewer should be replaced.
Floor coverings, skirting boards, beds, furniture and so on.

Post some pics if you have them

 

[Chuck]

Another possibility that sometimes leads to sudden and dramatic blockages is that someone upstream had a blockage and 'fixed' it by using a plunger or drain-rods to shove it downstream. Of course, the blockage doesn't magically disappear, it just travels a short distance along the drain before getting stuck and causing problems for someone else.

Responsible professionals who deal with blocked drains take care to ensure that they actually hook the blockage out and dispose of it safely.

 

[Ben-gee]

Responsible professionals who deal with blocked drains take care to ensure that they actually hook the blockage out and dispose of it safely.

Optimistic!

I think most break it up and send it on down to the big main.

 

[Ric2013]

Optimistic!

I think most break it up and send it on down to the big main.

Guess it depends whether it is a fatberg, foreign object, rubble etc that can conceivably be removed, or a load of toilet paper etc that has just stuck on perhaps a rough joint, can't be caught and oughtn't cause further trouble.

Back to the OP: yes, it can happen, but worth noting it might not be a building fault and could, instead, be someone has flushed something unsuitable.