Stormwater Drains.Done Right.

How stormwater drains fail

Leaves, silt and mud build up in pits and pipes. Tree roots enter joints. Heavy vehicles crush shallow pipes, and old pipes crack with ground movement. Any one of these can stop water leaving the property.

What we do

We clear blockages with a drain machine or jet blasting, camera the line to find damage, and repair or replace failed sections. We can also install new stormwater lines and pits, and connect downpipes to them.

Heavy rain

Flooding in the yard after rain often means a blocked or undersized stormwater line. We find the cause and give you options.

Common causes of blocked stormwater

Leaf litter, silt, roots and collapsed or crushed pipes are the usual reasons. Heavy rain shows weak spots quickly. A drain camera can show where water is slowing or stopping.

Clear leaves from gutters and pits regularly. If water is entering the house during rain, treat it as urgent and move valuables off the floor.

Pits, grates and pipes

A stormwater system on a property has pits and grates that collect water, and pipes that carry it away. Pits fill with silt and leaves, and grates can be blocked by debris. Clearing the pits is simple maintenance that avoids many problems.

When pipes are damaged

Pipes can crack from roots, ground movement or heavy loads such as a driveway. A camera shows where. A spot repair can fix a short damaged section. A longer damaged run may need replacing. Ask for the options and what each involves.

Stormwater and sewer are separate systems

Rain from your roof and yard goes to the stormwater system, while waste from toilets, sinks and showers goes to the sewer. They should never be connected. A downpipe that is joined to the sewer can overload it in heavy rain, and a sewer connection into stormwater can pollute waterways. If you are not sure which is which, a camera inspection or a dye test can show where each pipe goes.

Signs your stormwater drain is struggling

Water pooling near a downpipe, soil washing away beside the house, damp walls or a smell in a garden pit are common signs. Leaves, silt and tree roots are frequent causes, and so is a pipe that has dropped out of line. In heavy rain, check where the water goes. Water pushed against a wall is more urgent than water sitting on a lawn.

Where the water is supposed to go

Stormwater from your property usually has to reach a legal point of discharge, such as the street drain or a council pipe. Your local council or the Victorian Building Authority can tell you the rules that apply to your property. Redirecting water onto a neighbour's land is a dispute waiting to happen, so check before any change to downpipes or drains.

Keeping the system clear

Clear the gutters and pits before storm season. Check grates for leaves and mulch. If you have large trees near drains, a camera inspection every few years shows whether roots are entering joints. A small repair now costs less than a collapsed pipe under a driveway.

Soakwells, pits and tanks

Some properties handle stormwater with soakwells, which let water soak into the ground, or with pits that collect water before it enters a drain. These need to stay clear of silt and leaves, and they depend on soil that can absorb water. Check with your council about what suits your block, since clay soils drain slowly.

Flooding and overland flow

In a heavy storm, more water falls than pipes can carry, and the excess flows over the surface. The slope of your yard, driveway and paths decides where it goes. If water runs towards the house, a drain or a regraded path can help. A plumber can look at the pipes, but regrading or paving is often a job for a landscaper or builder.

Your responsibilities as an owner

Stormwater from your roof and paved areas generally has to be collected within your property and discharged to the legal point of discharge. City of Melbourne's stormwater page explains this for its area on its stormwater page, and the rule comes from regulation 133 of the Building Regulations 2018 (Vic). Other councils publish their own information, so ask yours what applies at your address.

Fixing a stormwater problem

Fixes range from clearing a pit or pipe, to repairing a joint, replacing a crushed section, adding a pit to take more water, or redirecting downpipes. A camera inspection helps decide which. Ask the plumber to show you the problem on screen, and ask whether the council has any requirements for the work.

Pits, grates and keeping them clear

Surface pits catch water from yards and driveways. Leaves and silt block them quickly. Check pits before heavy rain, lift grates safely and remove debris. Do not put garden waste in a pit.

If a pit fills and does not drain, the pipe may be blocked or collapsed. A camera can show.

Rainwater tanks and overflow

If you have a tank, its overflow has to go to a proper stormwater connection. A full tank in a storm can flood a yard if it is not connected well.

Ask your plumber to check where the overflow runs.

Signs your stormwater drain is failing

Water pooling in the yard after rain, damp near the house, gutters that overflow though they are clean, a pit that fills and drains slowly, or a smell of damp soil can point to a stormwater problem. Downpipes that gurgle or spit water back are another sign.

A camera inspection shows whether the pipe is blocked, broken or crushed. It is better to check before the next big storm than after water has reached the house.

Guides worth reading

• How to Keep Your Gutters and Downpipes Working

Related plumbing services

• Gutters and Downpipes: Leaking, sagging and blocked gutters and downpipes repaired or replaced.
• Roof Plumbing: Flashings, valleys, gutters and roof leaks fixed by a plumber.
• Roof Leak Repairs After Storms: Storm-damaged gutters and roof leaks made safe and repaired.
• Emergency plumbing is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Talk to GSA Plumbing Services

Call 0401 041 103 or send an enquiry on the contact page. We work across Geelong, Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.