How can I stop veggie garbage from coming out of my basement storm drain?

Question

I keep getting onion and tomato peels coming out of my basement storm drain after doing any sizable cooking and putting it through the garbage disposal. The kitchen is on the 1st floor, the drain is in front of the basement apartment door. The 1.5" drain pipe from the kitchen travels some 5' horizontally, then drops down into the basement (where it says "vertical stack"). I know the diagram because I did the pipe work a few years ago. The outdoor storm drain is 3", from the point where it meets the vertical stack coming from upstairs, it becomes 4".

It can be snaked out, I have done it several times. But is there any way I can prevent this from happening in the future without digging out and rearranging my drain pipes? Could it be cause by poor drainage downstream, which causes buildup in the pipe so the solid waste doesn't drain as fast and it floats up and through the outside drain?

Answer 1

It is obvious to me that the main sewer line is restricted somewhere between the house and town line. In areas that allow storm drains to be coupled to sewer lines, it is important that these lines run freely. If yours is backing up with kitchen waste, there is only one solution. You need to have the line checked with a camera. you could have a simple clog, a root growing through the line in the yard, a rust blockage if it is black pipe, etc. You won't know until it is looked at. At that point I'm sure you will need a rotary bit cleaning or a new liner installed. The longer you wait, the worse it will get. There is no DIY cure for this type of problem.