We have a situation with two lavs back to back that are mirror images of
each other. The two tubs. toilets, and sinks are exactly back to back with
the plumbing between. Also, I believe the kitchen drain heads over that
way passing the tubs, and sinks before hitting the main sewage line which I
think is in alignment with the toilets (the vent stack is in the wall there
too).

Anyway, drainage from the tubs is sluggish and thus backs up into the
opposite tub if the drain is not closed. (Never notice anything from the
kitchen but there is a good length of large diameter pipe that would need
to fill first).

We get this rodded out every so often but it doesn't take long to slow down
again so they are probably not getting it thoroughly enough and any
remaining obstruction is going to start collecting into a partial clog
again.

I realize the solution here is to get someone to really give it a good
cleaning but naturally one won't know the results until years go by and it
stays free running.

My question here today is this. Usually when dirty water backs up into a
tub from emptying the opposite one it's just some dark dirt matter. But
today this happened and looking closely at it I noticed a few worms of some
kind. (All together now: Ewwww!) They were black, about a mm thick and
maybe 5-8mm long. What are these things? I immediately dumped liquid
bleach into the water on both sides even before beginning any cleanup but
I'd like to know what these are and how dangerous are they. Should one
dump some bleach or something else regularly down the drain?

These may have come up from the street sewer but obviously right then they
had to be living in the drain within inches of the tub to get washed over
from one to the other.

WTF?

Big Giant Head wrote:
We have a situation with two lavs back to back that are mirror images of
each other. The two tubs. toilets, and sinks are exactly back to back with
the plumbing between. Also, I believe the kitchen drain heads over that
way passing the tubs, and sinks before hitting the main sewage line which I
think is in alignment with the toilets (the vent stack is in the wall there
too).

Anyway, drainage from the tubs is sluggish and thus backs up into the
opposite tub if the drain is not closed. (Never notice anything from the
kitchen but there is a good length of large diameter pipe that would need
to fill first).

We get this rodded out every so often but it doesn't take long to slow down
again so they are probably not getting it thoroughly enough and any
remaining obstruction is going to start collecting into a partial clog
again.

I realize the solution here is to get someone to really give it a good
cleaning but naturally one won't know the results until years go by and it
stays free running.

My question here today is this. Usually when dirty water backs up into a
tub from emptying the opposite one it's just some dark dirt matter. But
today this happened and looking closely at it I noticed a few worms of some
kind. (All together now: Ewwww!) They were black, about a mm thick and
maybe 5-8mm long. What are these things? I immediately dumped liquid
bleach into the water on both sides even before beginning any cleanup but
I'd like to know what these are and how dangerous are they. Should one
dump some bleach or something else regularly down the drain?

These may have come up from the street sewer but obviously right then they
had to be living in the drain within inches of the tub to get washed over
from one to the other.

WTF?

Our condo had four sewer backups before they finally paid attention.
Only once was stuff (wet wipes) removed from sewer. In between times,
things seemed fine. After the last, they got a plumber to video the
sewer line to find that the old cast iron pipe was disintegrating. The
worst condition was along the bottom of the pipe, where it seemed
entirely gone. That may be why your drains are troublesome. As for
worms, expect anything that communicates with a sewer to have just about
anything in it.

FWIW, the plumber told me when he videoed the sewer that salt or sugar
hasten the deterioration. The sugar part was surprising.

On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:42:34 -0500, Big Giant Head
wrote Re Worms in the Drain:

My question here today is this. Usually when dirty water backs up into a
tub from emptying the opposite one it's just some dark dirt matter. But
today this happened and looking closely at it I noticed a few worms of some
kind. (All together now: Ewwww!) They were black, about a mm thick and
maybe 5-8mm long. What are these things? I immediately dumped liquid
bleach into the water on both sides even before beginning any cleanup but
I'd like to know what these are and how dangerous are they. Should one
dump some bleach or something else regularly down the drain?

You probably have roots invading your main drain line to the sewer
system. The roots case the blockage and also allow small critters
(worms) to get into the pipe where the roots enter. When the water
backs up from the root blockage, the worms now have a path into the
house via a swim upstream.

If you have crack or joint failure that is allowing the roots into the
pipe, getting the pipe rodded out will only solve the problem until
the roots move in via the crack again. The solution is to fix the
pipe.

The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Caesar Romano wrote:

-snip-
The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Huh???? Typhoid is transmitted by transmission of fecal material
from an infected person. Just don't eat the worms raw & you should be
safe from typhoid.

Jim

On Apr 2, 4:37�pm, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
�Caesar Romano wrote:

-snip-

The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Huh???? � � Typhoid is transmitted by transmission of fecal material
from an infected person. �Just don't eat the worms raw & you should be
safe from typhoid. � �

Jim

if roots are in your main sewer and its clay tile just dump rock salt
in a washtub and dissolve with hot water leave sit without water use
remainder of day.

rock salt kills roots but doesnt hurt the trees.

On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:37:21 -0700, Jim Elbrecht
wrote Re Worms in the Drain:

Caesar Romano wrote:

-snip-
The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Huh???? Typhoid is transmitted by transmission of fecal material
from an infected person. Just don't eat the worms raw & you should be
safe from typhoid.

Jim

Hello Jim,

I believe we=e are talking about a sewer line here. Can we assume
fecal matter is present in the sewer system?

Next we have little wigglers also in the sewer line. Can we assume
they come in contact with the fecal matter in the line?

Take it (extrapolate) from there.

Caesar Romano wrote:
On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:37:21 -0700, Jim Elbrecht
wrote Re Worms in the Drain:

Caesar Romano wrote:

-snip-
The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Huh???? Typhoid is transmitted by transmission of fecal material
from an infected person. Just don't eat the worms raw & you should
be safe from typhoid.

Jim

Hello Jim,

I believe we=e are talking about a sewer line here. Can we assume
fecal matter is present in the sewer system?

Next we have little wigglers also in the sewer line. Can we assume
they come in contact with the fecal matter in the line?

Take it (extrapolate) from there.

Anyone in the house have Typhoid?

Take it from there.

Sewer. Two toilets. Is it possible that some fecal matter
might be in the sewer, which is handling two toilets?

Of course, maybe no one home has typhoid. I think the clorox
treatment was a good idea.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
Caesar Romano wrote:

-snip-
The worms probably carry typhoid fever, so it's good that
you gave
them the bleach treatment.

Huh???? Typhoid is transmitted by transmission of fecal
material
from an infected person. Just don't eat the worms raw & you
should be
safe from typhoid.

Jim

On Apr 2, 9:42*am, Big Giant Head
wrote:
We have a situation with two lavs back to back that are mirror images of
each other. *The two tubs. toilets, and sinks are exactly back to back with
the plumbing between. *Also, I believe the kitchen drain heads over that
way passing the tubs, and sinks before hitting the main sewage line which I
think is in alignment with the toilets (the vent stack is in the wall there
too). *

Anyway, drainage from the tubs is sluggish and thus backs up into the
opposite tub if the drain is not closed. *(Never notice anything from the
kitchen but there is a good length of large diameter pipe that would need
to fill first).

We get this rodded out every so often but it doesn't take long to slow down
again so they are probably not getting it thoroughly enough and any
remaining obstruction is going to start collecting into a partial clog
again.

I realize the solution here is to get someone to really give it a good
cleaning but naturally one won't know the results until years go by and it
stays free running.

My question here today is this. *Usually when dirty water backs up into a
tub from emptying the opposite one it's just some dark dirt matter. *But
today this happened and looking closely at it I noticed a few worms of some
kind. *(All together now: *Ewwww!) * They were black, about a mm thick and
maybe 5-8mm long. *What are these things? *I immediately dumped liquid
bleach into the water on both sides even before beginning any cleanup but
I'd like to know what these are and how dangerous are they. *Should one
dump some bleach or something else regularly down the drain? *

These may have come up from the street sewer but obviously right then they
had to be living in the drain within inches of the tub to get washed over
from one to the other.

WTF?

Are there little black 1/16"-1/8" things flying nearby, the worms
might be something called Mud maggots, bleach kills them, they can
also live in houseplants if its what I am thinking about

On Friday, April 3, 2009 12:42:34 AM UTC+10, Big Giant Head wrote:
We have a situation with two lavs back to back that are mirror images of
each other. The two tubs. toilets, and sinks are exactly back to back with
the plumbing between. Also, I believe the kitchen drain heads over that
way passing the tubs, and sinks before hitting the main sewage line which I
think is in alignment with the toilets (the vent stack is in the wall there
too).

Anyway, drainage from the tubs is sluggish and thus backs up into the
opposite tub if the drain is not closed. (Never notice anything from the
kitchen but there is a good length of large diameter pipe that would need
to fill first).

We get this rodded out every so often but it doesn't take long to slow down
again so they are probably not getting it thoroughly enough and any
remaining obstruction is going to start collecting into a partial clog
again.

I realize the solution here is to get someone to really give it a good
cleaning but naturally one won't know the results until years go by and it
stays free running.

My question here today is this. Usually when dirty water backs up into a
tub from emptying the opposite one it's just some dark dirt matter. But
today this happened and looking closely at it I noticed a few worms of some
kind. (All together now: Ewwww!) They were black, about a mm thick and
maybe 5-8mm long. What are these things? I immediately dumped liquid
bleach into the water on both sides even before beginning any cleanup but
I'd like to know what these are and how dangerous are they. Should one
dump some bleach or something else regularly down the drain?

These may have come up from the street sewer but obviously right then they
had to be living in the drain within inches of the tub to get washed over
from one to the other.

WTF?

Here’s a short video I made about drain worms in my shower because I realised that there was very little about them on the web. Hope it helps you beat these little nasties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px_f0...1&feature=plcp

In short, the Drain Worms hatch from the eggs laid by the Drain Fly in a layer of scum just above the water level in the pipe. So the worms you kill today will just be replaced by more hatchlings in the following days. The worms grow up to be Drain Flies and then they lay more eggs.

You've got three choices to break the life cycle: 1. Kill the flies, 2. Block the flies from reaching the scum by keeping the drain plugged or covered when not in use, 3. Open the grate so you can thoroughly clean the scum away.

And by the way, they are not black. Check out the video for a closer look.
Cheers
Rusty