Case Study: Blocked Stormwater Drain Repair In Charlemont

When Mark, a Charlemont homeowner, spotted water flooding up through his stormwater grates and spilling into his neighbour’s yard, he knew he needed help fast. He contacted our expert emergency team online and we arranged one of our plumbers for urgent dispatch to assess the issue and fully restore the stormwater drainage to the street connection.

Rapid on-site inspection and blocked drain clearance

Henry, one of our licensed plumbers, arrived within 30 minutes, set up safety barriers, and carried out an initial inspection. The water was discharging from the stormwater surface grates instead of flowing to the street connection, flooding the concrete footpath and spilling into the neighbouring property. Using our Ridgid CCTV drain camera, he identified the blockage as concrete wash-off and debris buildup in the service that had accumulated during construction.

He used one of our high-pressure hydro jetter units, which we have mounted on all of our service vehicles, to blast the surface clear and restore full water flow. This method is non-invasive, efficient, and perfect for stubborn or deep blockages, avoiding unnecessary excavation.

Learn more about how we can clear your blocked stormwater drains here. 

Identifying drainage defects and compliance issues

With the blockage cleared, Henry inspected the entire stormwater service. Working from the street legal point of discharge, he was able to inspect around the perimeter of the service including all downpipe connections and surface grates. He discovered:

• Concrete wash-off blocking the stormwater line
• A recently poured footpath laid too high, partially blocking brick weep holes (drainage points that prevent moisture buildup)
• Footpath gradient below the required 1:20 fall (slope for drainage), causing water to pool

We’re seeing these issues more and more in new landscaping jobs and renovations, which can lead to long-term moisture or structural problems to the property, and compliance breaches if not corrected.

Henry broke up the remaining concrete residue in the stormwater service using our jetter and our drainage chain knockers, which spin inside the service and break the residue into smaller sections. It was then manually removed from the front stormwater pit before being re-inspected with our CCTV drain camera to ensure the system was fully clear.

Comprehensive drainage report and professional results

After clearing the blockage, Mark was provided with a detailed drainage report, including:

• A detailed report with all site information from the inspection
• High-resolution photos
• CCTV video footage inside the service
• A written summary of identified compliance defects with the concrete and water runoff

This transparent reporting helps homeowners understand installation faults, compliance risks, and maintenance needs.

Using the report, Mark was able to arrange for the concreter to remove the defective footpath and excavate the ground height to lower the finished height. The 50mm minimum gap from the finished concrete to the bottom of the weep holes was achieved and the concrete was then graded away from the building at 1:40 (slope for drainage) to our new stormwater grates. This will prevent water pooling around foundations and allows for the water to be redirected into the existing stormwater system. We installed additional channel grates at the edge of the new path and new AGI drainage to catch any subsurface runoff.

Long-term stormwater maintenance advice

To maintain reliable stormwater performance and avoid emergency plumbing issues, homeowners should:

• Inspect external surfaces after heavy rain for pooling
• Keep garden soil and landscaping below slab level and a minimum of 50mm clear of weep holes
• Regularly clear leaves and debris from gutters and surface grates
• Occasionally flush the stormwater drains with a garden hose to the street

Simple stormwater maintenance and regular inspections can prevent costly damage and protect your property, and your neighbours, from flooding.

Bay Plumbing & Drainage: Your trusted emergency plumber in Charlemont

If you’re dealing with a blocked stormwater drain, flooding, or any urgent drainage repairs, Bay Plumbing & Drainage is ready to help 24/7. Our licensed plumbers in Charlemont provide fast, professional, and reliable service for residential and commercial properties.

Call us on 0468 159 504 or get in touch for fast, local service from Geelong’s trusted drainage experts.