Have a broken clay drainage pipe that just takes water away from the house. It is near the wye on the bigger clay drainage pipe that where the difficulty is. So any ideas how to fix it?
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Broken clay drainage pipe
drainage
Related Solutions
I'm assuming this pipe connects your gutters to the cities storm drain system, depending on the type of pipe and the damage it's probably a simple fix.
If the pipe is PVC and the damaged area is not too large, you may be able to cut out the damaged section and reconnect it using a coupling.
If the damaged area is larger (and PVC) you could cut out the damaged area, then patch it in using another length of PVC and two couplings.
If the pipe is not PVC you could use a flexible rubber coupling as @AWMoore suggests, just make sure the one you use is rated to be buried (and is permitted to be buried by your local codes).
If this is a storm drain you may want to contact your local water municipality, as they may be responsible for the maintenance of the drain line (paid for by your taxes).
This page says clay soil absorbs water at the rate of 1/2 inch per hour, 4 times slower than sandy soil or loam.
http://www.ornamentaledibles.com/tips/soil.htm
Let's assume you get 5-10 gallons per minute or 300-600 gallons per hour. A gallon is 231 cubic inches or 462 square inches 1/2 inch high. So 600 gallons/hour needs 277200 square inches or 1925 square feet. Assuming your trench is 12 inches wide, you need 1925 linear feet of pipe under steady state conditions.
Let's consider another situation where you store all the rain water and let it absorb as slowly as it wants. Assume you get 600 gallons which requires 80 cubic feet. So if your trench were 12" by 12" you would need 80 linear feet of pipe.
Best Answer
With rain water only it is much easier. I am guessing that is 4” inside diameter clay pipe, I would excavate a bit more and cut the bell on the left or dig back to the next section. With both ends open purchase some flexible drainage pipe (commonly used for a French drain). Split the flex and put it over the clay and then cover the end where it is split with plastic. Then backfill and it will be fine for as long as the clay holds up. This is a small job and a heavy duty garbage bag wrapped around the split at rack end will work to keep dirt out. So you cut the end of the flex put it over the clay at each end then cover with the plastic trash wrapping snug at each end or opening. Backfilling with gravel is best but the dirt that was removed can be used for backfill,
If this was for sewer my answer would be much different but rain water it could be even something solid over the break then plastic to keep the dirt out , I have had patches like this last for quite a few years when another section failed and I replaced the entire line.