Water is rising around an outdoor grate. The downpipe connection is spilling over, or a drain near the laundry has started overflowing. With severe weather affecting our area today, it is understandable to wonder whether you need a plumber or whether the rain is simply too much for the drainage system.
Start by keeping clear of the water and noting where it is coming from. An overflowing stormwater drain and a sewage overflow need different responses. Neither can be reliably diagnosed from the colour of the water alone.
First, look at where the water is appearing
You do not need to lift a cover or step into standing water to gather useful information. From a safe, dry position, note which of these best matches what you can see.
- A yard grate, stormwater pit or downpipe connection: this points towards the rainwater drainage system. A restriction, damaged pipe, surface drainage problem or heavy flow may be involved.
- A small grated outlet near the house: this may be an overflow relief gully, often called an ORG. It is part of the wastewater system and helps give sewage an outside escape point during a backup.
- A street drain or public maintenance hole: report the location to the relevant authority; do not approach it or remove its cover.
If you are unsure what the fitting is, say so when you call. A photograph taken safely from a distance can help explain the situation.
Does an overflowing outside drain mean it is blocked?
Not necessarily. A blocked stormwater pipe is one possibility, but intense rainfall can also overwhelm drainage capacity. Water may run towards a low point because of the surrounding ground levels, even when a nearby drain is present.
Leaves, silt, roots and damaged underground pipes are other possible causes of recurring stormwater problems. The useful distinction is between an observation and a diagnosis: “water rises at this grate whenever it rains heavily” tells a plumber more than assuming a particular pipe has collapsed.
For more on recurring yard flooding, see our guide to blocked stormwater drains and water pooling after rain.
If sewage may be involved, treat it differently
Stormwater and wastewater are separate systems. Unitywater explains that heavy wet weather can put additional pressure on the wastewater network when rainwater enters it. An overflow can therefore involve a private plumbing problem, a network issue, or both.
If you suspect wastewater is overflowing:
- Keep children and pets away and avoid contact with the affected water.
- Stop flushing toilets and putting more water down household drains until the problem has been investigated.
- Report the overflow to Unitywater on 1300 086 489 if your property is in its service area, including Moreton Bay.
- If wastewater has entered the home, contact your insurer; tenants should also notify their property manager or landlord.
These steps follow Unitywater’s overflow guidance. Do not assume clear-looking water is safe.
Do not cover an overflowing relief gully
Putting a brick, sandbag or heavy pot over an ORG can stop it working as intended. Unitywater’s recent storm-season advice reminds residents that its lid needs to be able to release freely.
During an active overflow, keep clear rather than attempting to dismantle the fitting. Leave inspection covers in place and do not enter floodwater to reach a drain. Roof and gutter checks can wait until conditions are safe.
Who should you contact?
- RJT Plumbing & Gas: for assessment of private blocked drains, downpipe connections and recurring drainage problems around your property.
- Unitywater: to report suspected wastewater overflows within its service area. Elsewhere, contact your local water utility.
- Your local council: for public stormwater drains and road drainage issues.
For current weather advice, check the Bureau of Meteorology’s warnings. Do not rely on a blog article for changing warning areas or storm timing.
What to send RJT
Include your suburb, the location of the drain, when the overflow started, whether water is entering the house and whether indoor fixtures are affected. Add a photo or short video only if you can take it without approaching the water.
RJT Plumbing & Gas services North Lakes, Mango Hill, Griffin, Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Narangba and surrounding Moreton Bay suburbs. Call 0417 860 064 or send a plumbing enquiry so we can assess the next step. Access and attendance during severe weather depend on safe conditions.
