A B757 flight crew diverted due to an uncontrolled leakage from a cabin lavatory.

Attributes
ACN	892443
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.Airport
State Reference	FO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Toilet Furnishing
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 4000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff the flight attendants advised me that we had an aft lavatory that was leaking fluid and that they were trying to contain it with blankets and after about thirty minutes it was still leaking. I contacted dispatch and was patched through to maintenance. They gave us several suggestions on what to do. None worked and I was getting concerned about where all this fluid might be going and what aircraft systems it could affect not mention the mess it was making. I advised our dispatcher that we would be landing at [a foreign airport] as it was along the route of flight. We declared an emergency and landed overweight at 209.0 lbs. (Max landing wt is 198.0 lbs.). Made an uneventful landing and after checking brake temps taxied to ramp. Maintenance checked and placarded the lavatory and did an overweight landing inspection. After the plane was cleaned and serviced we continued on to destination. ATC; I think; was confused as to the fact we were declaring mayday or emergency for overweight landing. After landing; the foreign FAA required us to submit a report on this event before we were allowed to depart.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 Flight Crew diverted due to an uncontrolled leakage from a cabin lavatory.

Narrative: Shortly after takeoff the Flight Attendants advised me that we had an aft lavatory that was leaking fluid and that they were trying to contain it with blankets and after about thirty minutes it was still leaking. I contacted Dispatch and was patched through to Maintenance. They gave us several suggestions on what to do. None worked and I was getting concerned about where all this fluid might be going and what aircraft systems it could affect not mention the mess it was making. I advised our Dispatcher that we would be landing at [a foreign airport] as it was along the route of flight. We declared an emergency and landed overweight at 209.0 lbs. (max landing wt is 198.0 lbs.). Made an uneventful landing and after checking brake temps taxied to ramp. Maintenance checked and placarded the lavatory and did an overweight landing inspection. After the plane was cleaned and serviced we continued on to destination. ATC; I think; was confused as to the fact we were declaring mayday or emergency for overweight landing. After landing; the foreign FAA required us to submit a report on this event before we were allowed to depart.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.