Stormwater Drains Springvale

How stormwater works on your property

Rain from your roof flows down the gutters into downpipes, then into underground stormwater pipes that carry it to the street kerb or a council drain. Paved areas often have grated pits or channel drains feeding the same system. Stormwater is completely separate from the sewer, and it is illegal to connect one to the other.

Signs of a stormwater problem

• gutters and downpipes overflowing even in moderate rain
• water spilling out of the top of downpipes at ground level
• pits that fill and do not drain
• water pooling against walls or under the house
• damp subfloors and rising damp marks on brick walls
• erosion or sinking where a pipe runs underground

Common causes in Springvale

Springvale is fairly flat, which means stormwater lines often have little fall and silt settles easily. Older homes may have original earthenware stormwater pipes that have cracked and filled with roots. Where blocks have been subdivided, new driveways and townhouses sometimes cut across old lines or add more roof area than the original pipes were built for. Leaves from street trees and sand from paving also find their way in.

Clearing blocked stormwater

We jet stormwater lines from the downpipe or pit to the kerb outlet, clearing silt, roots and leaves. Then we run a camera to check for breaks and sags. Where a line has collapsed, we repair or replace the section.

Pits, grates and channel drains

Driveways and courtyards that slope towards the house need surface drainage. We install grated pits and channel drains, connect them to the stormwater system and make sure the falls carry water away from buildings.

Kerb outlets and council requirements

Stormwater usually discharges at the kerb through an outlet. If the outlet is broken or blocked, water backs up. Work in the road reserve may need council consent, which we can help arrange.

New homes and subdivisions

Townhouse developments need stormwater designed for the new roof and paved area, sometimes with on-site detention to limit flow into the council system. We install stormwater to approved plans and provide as-constructed drawings.

Rainwater tanks

Tanks can collect roof water for gardens, toilets and laundries. The overflow must connect to the stormwater system, and if the tank is plumbed to the house, backflow protection may be needed.

Stormwater and your neighbours

Water draining onto a neighbouring property can cause disputes. We can design a solution that keeps water on your land and directs it legally to the street.

Prevention

• Clean gutters before winter and after storms.
• Fit leaf guards on downpipes and pits.
• Keep pits clear of sand and mulch.
• Have long lines jetted every few years if they have little fall.

Camera checks before buying

Older stormwater lines are easy to forget until they fail. If you are buying an older house in Springvale, a camera inspection of the sewer and stormwater lines can reveal problems before you commit. We provide footage and a plain report you can use in negotiations.

Springvale ground and pipes

Springvale sits on a mix of sandy loam and heavier clay, and much of the suburb was built in the 1950s and 1960s with earthenware sewer pipes and galvanised or early copper water pipe. Clay joints shift over time and let roots in, rusting galvanised pipe slowly narrows and leaks, and drains under subdivided blocks are often shared between homes. We use drain cameras, locators and pressure tests to see exactly what is going on before anyone digs.

From your call to the finished job