Bay Plumbing & Drainage – Charlemont’s Trusted Drainage Specialists
When Mark, a homeowner in Charlemont, noticed water flooding up from his stormwater grates and overflowing into his neighbour’s property, he knew he needed a plumber fast. He contacted our team online, and we arranged for 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 was discharging into the neighbouring property. Using our Ridgid CCTV drain camera, he identified the blockage as concrete wash off and debris build in the service that had accumulated during construction.
He used one of our high-pressure hydro jetter units, which we have mounted on all 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.
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 obstructing the stormwater line from a recent works to the property
- A newly poured footpath laid too high, partially blocking brick weep holes
- Footpath gradient below the required 1:20 fall, causing water pooling
- Concrete not correctly graded to the stormwater surface grates
We’re seeing these issues all the time lately and it’s becoming more common in new landscaping and concreting works, which leads 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. This specialised equipment spin inside the service and break the residue into smaller sections allowing it to be cleaned out more effectively. 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
- 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 the concreter to remove the defective footpath, excavate the ground height to lower the finished height. The 75mm minimum gap from the finished concrete to the bottom of the holes was achieved and the concrete was then graded away from the building at 1:40 to our new stormwater grates, this will prevent water pooling around foundations and allows for the water to be re-directed into the existing stormwater system. Mark also arranged for our team to re-attend and install additional channel grates at the edge of the new path and new AGI drainage to catch any sub surface 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.
Need an 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 1300 625 633 or reach out Online Today for Fast, local service from trusted drainage experts.
