Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Rain.

Been a bit damp in West Wales over the last week or so. Thankfully we are not in a flood affected area so not having to get sandbags out.

Have just been watching a news report on what has been happening in Sacremento and the West Coast of the US. I know they need rain in California but suspect most of the rain that is causing the flooding will not help in filling the reservoirs in a meaningful way.

We do like to moan about the weather in the UK but thankfully we tend not to get extremes like this.

I went up the Tywi valley last Friday to Nantgaredig. Widespread flooding of fields. River was flowing strongly. Impressive when in flood but not for those close to the banks. Over the years the river has changed after floods and while fishing after them dead cows/sheep are seen. NOT a river to be blase about!

My back garden is being flooded just now with what looks to be a broken field drain. The only people who might know the position of this drain have now passed away..

I had a similar situation at my location when I bought this place Boab, septic tank and all... I had to learn how to locate and repair field drains. Divining rods can help, along with a probe which has a drilling in it`s nose, on pushing it down into the soil, anything hard is hit by the probe, and if it is a drain you have hit, you may detect a hollow sound or not..the drilling will contain some trace of the red fireclay surface of the drain tile.

How far from Kilbarchan are you?!!!

I am a few years away from pushing probes into the soil and getting in amongst drainage with a spade Boab, sorry.

Some folk can just eyeball a piece of land and tell where the drains will run, that ain`t me. Other than that there tends to be a fair bit of probing and hole digging until the line of the drain is discovered. A wet patch may be a red hering for location unless you can see water rising.

The foundations of the 50`s part of my house were laid right through a field drain line with no alternative routing considered. If your issue is not something that has been going on for years, and you may have had recent excavation in your area, perhaps for upgrading of telecoms or similar then that could be a logical starting point..?

Thank you for the reply, Luddite. I'm afraid that there has been no excavation in the area since 1975 when the houses were built.

Bob, try divining rods easy to make or cheap to buy. Most people can do it, just hold them out in front of you and think about what you want to find, they will move when over the drain.