Clean outs

[Doug Dahlke]

Are all of these pictures clean outs to sanitary sewer? What is underneath all of the covers? Do plumbing supply stores carry the tools to open them? Can you just put a hose in any of them and drain wash water?

[Doug Dahlke]

Here are two more.

[Paul Kassander]

I have seen some do that but it is best to get permission first, people don't care for strange stuff put down the drains. Plus you may need approval from the POTW to discharge in that area, they may be monitoring other business on that line.

[One Tough Pressure]

In most cases those are sanitary sewer clean outs, but around here they have lots of those for area drain clean outs and the area drains are storm drains, so putting it in, without knowing for sure is asking for trouble.
Treatment plants vary. Some want prefiltering some do not. You need to check with each area that you are working in if you want to be 100% sure.

[Doug Dahlke]

Alan. When you say area drain are you talking about some small open grates in the sidewalks for drainage? There were none of those where I took these pictures. The only open drains were located pretty far out in the parking lot.

[One Tough Pressure]

When I say area drain, I mean small grates like you see in commercial bathrooms. They put them in to avoid puddling on incorrectly pitched concrete around here.