Looking for help identifying purpose of mystery plumbing in basement

[drappehs125]

Hi all:

I'm hoping somebody here will be able to tell me the purpose of some plumbing in my basement.
This is a townhome built in the early 90s in Ontario, Canada.

Basically, in the far corner of my basement (opposite corner of my water supply and laundry area) there is a 1.5" ABS pipe sticking up out of the concrete. There is a cold water supply line (polybutylene) with a valve that is inserted directly into the ABS pipe. See the end of this post for links to images.

What is the purpose of this? When I open the water valve, water flushes down the ABS pipe. I've left the water running with the valve full open for a few minutes and the 'drain' handles it fine.

Could this be a manual "trap primer"? I don't smell sewer gas coming from the ABS pipe, but that would make sense if there were a trap below the concrete.


I'd like to know if this is connected to the sewer drain, I am considering in the future to place a small bar sink in that corner of the basement, connecting the bar sink drain directly to this mystery ABS and re-routing the cold water supply line to the sink tap - but without knowing what this is for sure I would not proceed.

The previous owner of the house had no idea what this was either, so the valve hasn't been opened in 10+ years until recently when I started investigating, so it doesn't seem too important to open this valve regularly

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Valve:

https://imgur.com/a/M4B8K8L

Mystery ABS 'Drain':

https://imgur.com/a/BPKFjrZ

 

[cda]

Welcome

A flushing valve???

What room is directly above this area???


Are you able to see it on the floor above?

Maybe there, if you have to turn the water off to your place, and a means to drain more water/ pressure off the system?

If you cannot trace it by normal means, do a drill hole in the ceiling above, and but a spy cam up there, to see where it goes.

Digital Inspection Camera

Amazing deals on this Digital Inspection Camera at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

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[drappehs125]

Thanks for the quick reply!

The Kitchen is directly above this area.

To clarify: Nothing goes through the ceiling - after the valve the line makes a 90 and goes across the basement where it tees into the main water supply line running through my basement that is providing cold water to all fixtures throughout the house. I can follow this back easily. There is nothing special about the water supply line.

-Josh

 

[e hilton]

Looks like it might be a rough-in for a future toilet ... excpt the drain pipe is too close to the wall.

 

[drappehs125]

Looks like it might be a rough-in for a future toilet ... excpt the drain pipe is too close to the wall.

Also this is only a 1.5" pipe, so it would not be suitable for a toilet anyway. I'd like to put a very small bar sink here - seems to be no issues with it being that close to the wall for that application.

 

[Teeshot]

Hi all:

I'm hoping somebody here will be able to tell me the purpose of some plumbing in my basement.
This is a townhome built in the early 90s in Ontario, Canada.

Basically, in the far corner of my basement (opposite corner of my water supply and laundry area) there is a 1.5" ABS pipe sticking up out of the concrete. There is a cold water supply line (polybutylene) with a valve that is inserted directly into the ABS pipe. See the end of this post for links to images.

What is the purpose of this? When I open the water valve, water flushes down the ABS pipe. I've left the water running with the valve full open for a few minutes and the 'drain' handles it fine.

Could this be a manual "trap primer"? I don't smell sewer gas coming from the ABS pipe, but that would make sense if there were a trap below the concrete.


I'd like to know if this is connected to the sewer drain, I am considering in the future to place a small bar sink in that corner of the basement, connecting the bar sink drain directly to this mystery ABS and re-routing the cold water supply line to the sink tap - but without knowing what this is for sure I would not proceed.

The previous owner of the house had no idea what this was either, so the valve hasn't been opened in 10+ years until recently when I started investigating, so it doesn't seem too important to open this valve regularly

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Valve:

https://imgur.com/a/M4B8K8L

Mystery ABS 'Drain':

https://imgur.com/a/BPKFjrZ

If connected to the sanitary sewer system, it should be protected with a trap, otherwise, sewer gases would be free to enter the space. It is possible that it was roughed in for a future drainage fixture, such as the bar sink you are planning. The water piping may have been placed to prime the trap as it would dry out if not used, typically a few months, and then allow the sewer gases to enter. A camera scope would most likely tell the story.

 

[drappehs125]

If connected to the sanitary sewer system, it should be protected with a trap, otherwise, sewer gases would be free to enter the space. It is possible that it was roughed in for a future drainage fixture, such as the bar sink you are planning. The water piping may have been placed to prime the trap as it would dry out if not used, typically a few months, and then allow the sewer gases to enter. A camera scope would most likely tell the story.

This was my first thought, and is what I hope to be the case.
I'm going to buy a camera scope and take a look. Is it safe to assume if a trap does indeed exist, then the drain must be connected to the sewer system?

Thanks

 

[Teeshot]

The odds are pretty high if there is a trap but the scope should tell the story.

 

[ADAguy]

Maybe an overflow for a dishwasher?