The toilet flushes the wastes down the sewer pipe. The sewer pipe from your house also collects and removes other wastes. This might be soapy water from baths and showers, or water left over from washing dishes and clothes. Together, all of these wastes are called “sewage”.
The general answer is that the showers and toilets can use the same drain, but they should not be sharing the same waste trap arm. There are other factors to consider as well, such as whether your drains lead to the main sewer line, or if there are septic tanks that are used in your city or town.
You see, every drain in your home is connected to a pipe that moves used water from your house to a sewer in the street; that's right, every toilet, shower, sink, washing machine, dishwasher, and anything else that uses water connects to one singular pipe.
Where does the water go after you flush the toilet or drain the sinks in your home? When the wastewater flushed from your toilet or drained from your household sinks, washing machine, or dishwasher leaves your home, it flows through your community's sanitary sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility.
No, they are two separate drain systems; one is called Grey Water and the other is Black Water. Black water goes into a septic system or the city sewer system.
After you flush your toilet, your waste travels through your pipes into the main sewer line. If water from the toilet begins backing up into your shower or tub, it's because something is blocking the main sewer line. The waste has no choice but to find the closest drain to escape, in this case, your shower.
However, if there's something blocking the sewer line, such as a deep clog, the waste will have to find somewhere else to release itself. Inevitably, it ends up making its way to the closest drain to your toilet: the shower drain.
All the sinks, toilets, and tubs connect to a single drain pipe that leads to the sewer line under your house. This drain line carries all wastewater and sewage away from your home to the city's sewer system.
In most cases, all the drains in your home lead to the same place—a single sewer line. This line then extends to your septic tank or a municipal sewer system.
Toilet Water Same as Drinking Water
Generally speaking, most water supply pipes to the toilet are the same water to the kitchen sink. So the water running to the toilet tank is as clean as your kitchen drinking water.
The waste outlet must run to the left edge of the shower tray - See below. The waste outlet can only be fitting one way. The waste outlet needs to be facing to the left edge of the shower tray (see dotted line of diagram).
A study has found that the water quality of a home can differ in each room and change between seasons, challenging the assumption that the water in a public water system is the same as the water that passes through a building's plumbing at any time of the year.
Your kitchen sink and bathtub have separate drain lines, but they ultimately all connect to a single line that leads into the sewer. If your sink is draining into your bathtub, something has definitely gone wrong somewhere in the plumbing lines.
Drain Clogs
One of the most frequent problems with a shower that can result in foul odors emanating from the drain is a clog. Dirt, grime, oils, hair, and other debris can get trapped in the drain line and act as a barrier, preventing similar items from getting washed down the drain.
The two most common drain pipes that most people have on the side of their house are: Air conditioner condensate lines (AC drain line). Water heater pressure relief valve lines (PRV drain line).
In the US, with modern regulations, in most municipalities, yes, they do. The water and solids from your toilet waste line and the water from your drains end up in the same sewer line, if you have access to a municipal sewer system.
Most homes have separate drains for rainwater and wastewater. The owner is responsible for checking their property has the right drain connections. If your property has the wrong drain connections, you could be causing water pollution.
In most cases, the toilet and shower share a drain and vent stack – a setup that's known as wet venting. If you're noticing bubbling when the tub drains, chances are you have a blockage. The only way to fix the problem is to have it repaired. However, there are some things to know before taking those steps.
What is this black gunk in my drain? The black gunk that accumulates in your drain is created by a build up of bacteria living on hair, hand soaps, shaving cream, skin cells, lotion, toothpaste, and phlegm.
Drano is not only ineffective, but it's also extremely damaging to your plumbing system. The heat created by the chemical reaction is more than your drains are designed to take. Corroded, aging plumbing can easily breakdown. Pipes can split and the glue holding them together can disintegrate.
Basement Floor Drain Backs up: When Toilet is Flushed
The most common cause of sewer backups after flushing your toilet is due to something being flushed that shouldn't have been. Another cause can sometimes be tree roots getting into the sewer line. To prevent further blockages, the water line should be shut off.
If your home was built after 1920, it is likely that your property has two separate drains: a foul sewer drain and a surface water sewer drain. This ensures that rainwater can be funnelled directly into a local waterway, while wastewater is taken to the sewage works for processing.
To find the drains on your property, consult with your local council to search for the drainage plans for your property based on the age of your property. A CCTV drain survey can also map and record the drainage system on your property if you are unable to find property deeds.