Maintain your household pipes
Putting the wrong things down sinks, pipes and toilets can lead to blockages, overflows and expensive plumbing bills. Slow-draining sinks, toilets or showers should be investigated by a licensed plumber before they cause a total blockage or lead to a sewage overflow inside your property.
Keep stormwater out of the sewerage network
Overflows sometimes occur due to improper stormwater connections from down pipes or water tanks draining into sewer pipes on private properties. Please ensure your stormwater pipes are not connected to the sewerage network or overflow relief gully.
Check your overflow relief gully (ORG)
An overflow relief gully (ORG) is a grated outlet located in the ground outside your home, usually near the laundry. It's designed to act as a release valve in the event of a blockage or if there's excess rainwater in the sewerage network. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining the ORG along with all other plumbing and drainage within the property boundary.
Please follow these tips:
- Make sure stormwater in your yard drains away and does not build up and flood your ORG.
- Make sure your ORG sits at least 75mm above ground level to avoid collecting stormwater during heavy rain.
- It should also sit at least 150mm lower than the lowest internal household drain to prevent overflows inside the house.
- Check your ORG is clear and not covered by landscaping, garden beds, pot plants or other items.
- Ensure the surrounding area slopes away from the building to direct potential overflows away from your home.
- Regularly check that the metal or plastic grill covering the ORG is loosely fitted and can pop off to allow an overflow to occur, rather than overflowing inside the house.
Find out more about overflow relief gullies.