A green tail

[dhaslam]

I normally check water usage every day  and today there was an extra 3700 litres used.   The tank upstairs was constantly filling but no sign of water anywhere.     I traced  the leak  with a laser thermometer  checking for cold pipes and  it  led to the toilet  feeds.   After turning the water off  for a  few minutes I flushed all the toilets and one didn't fill.  It is the  guest bedroom ensuite.    I turned the water on again and opened the cistern lid to find a frog inside.   I'm not sure whether he had managed to  to something to the flushing mechanism or whether it is just coincidence  but  I am curious to know how he got there.    The builder says they can come into houses and then head for the nearest water  but how does he get into the cistern?  Is it possible that he lives underground in the septic tank  and  drainage system?   We found one in that bathroom before but he was in the toilet bowl.             

[welshboy]

I normally check water usage every day  and today there was an extra 3700 litres used.   The tank upstairs was constantly filling but no sign of water anywhere.     I traced  the leak  with a laser thermometer  checking for cold pipes and  it  led to the toilet  feeds.   After turning the water off  for a  few minutes I flushed all the toilets and one didn't fill.  It is the  guest bedroom ensuite.    I turned the water on again and opened the cistern lid to find a frog inside.   I'm not sure whether he had managed to  to something to the flushing mechanism or whether it is just coincidence  but  I am curious to know how he got there.    The builder says they can come into houses and then head for the nearest water  but how does he get into the cistern?  Is it possible that he lives underground in the septic tank  and  drainage system?   We found one in that bathroom before but he was in the toilet bowl.             

Redit

[ecogeorge]

I've just checked to see if the stream is running for my micro micro micro hydro system and turned the  turbine on (been off for 5mths -stream dry) turbine started up then stopped. Closer investigation revealed a little head with two eyes looking out of the  hydro nozzle!!
Disconnected the turbine , tapped it upside down and a large frog fell out, looked at me and hopped away!
However still not quite enough water to run - will check later,- pouring down in Forest of Dean.

[Ivan]

ecogeorge - nice to hear a happy ending. I like frogs. I suggest a filter at the top end of your system - to stop the frogs getting there in the first place - I've heard quite a few stories of frogs in nozzles.

[welshboy]

I normally check water usage every day  and today there was an extra 3700 litres used.   The tank upstairs was constantly filling but no sign of water anywhere.     I traced  the leak  with a laser thermometer  checking for cold pipes and  it  led to the toilet  feeds.   After turning the water off  for a  few minutes I flushed all the toilets and one didn't fill.  It is the  guest bedroom ensuite.    I turned the water on again and opened the cistern lid to find a frog inside.   I'm not sure whether he had managed to  to something to the flushing mechanism or whether it is just coincidence  but  I am curious to know how he got there.    The builder says they can come into houses and then head for the nearest water  but how does he get into the cistern?  Is it possible that he lives underground in the septic tank  and  drainage system?   We found one in that bathroom before but he was in the toilet bowl.             

Sorry Dhaslam but I couldn't resist my last comment.

Do you have any mischievious visitors ?

[noelsquibb]

Im a bit confused 

You say you were using extra water, didnt know where it was going, then found a frog was causing one of the wc cisterns to not fill.

I suppose the same frog could have been sitting on the float valve and causing the cistern to overflow ?
A frog could have worked its way up the sewer pipes but I cannot imagine how it could have got into the cistern.  Small boy with a new pet he didnt want anyone to know about ?

Ive come across people who have had a big water bill when WC washers fail a bit and the internal overflow allows continuous seepage into the pan. Its not obvious like the old traditional overflow pipe is.  So much for WRAS approval.
 

[Ivan]

I think frogs keep well away from sewerage unless the accidentally fall in - so coming up the soil pipe is probably unlikely or accidental rather than habitual. Maybe he crawled in through the overflow pipe when he was a wee frog and grew in situ?

[dhaslam]

I think he may have been living  in the drains, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to survive.   The leaking cistern may have been a coincidence.    As usual no sign of a plumber.