It might just look like a bit of standing water, but it is really your property telling you something is not quite right. When we get a big downpour, stormwater drains around Melbourne often cannot keep up. The water builds up, backs out of the drain and suddenly the lowest part of your yard looks like a small pond. If you ignore it, that little overflow can turn into a flooded yard.
The good news is that most stormwater overflow problems can be sorted out. Once you know what to look for and deal with it early, you can stop a simple puddle from becoming a big headache the next time it pours.
Who’s Actually Responsible for What
Before you can fix the problem, you need to know whose problem it is. According to Melbourne Water’s drainage responsibilities guide, stormwater management in Victoria is split between homeowners, local councils, and Melbourne Water itself.
You’re responsible for everything within your property boundaries. That includes your gutters, downpipes, underground drains, and all piping up to the legal point of discharge, usually where your system connects to council infrastructure at the street. The City of Melbourne confirms that property owners must manage stormwater accumulating within their property and ensure it’s properly discharged to the drainage network.
Councils look after most of the public drains, like the kerbside drains, street pits and the big pipes that run under the roads. They take care of the smaller drainage areas. Melbourne Water looks after the bigger stuff, like the major drains that move large amounts of stormwater into rivers and eventually out to the bay.
If the water is overflowing on your property before it reaches the official discharge point, it is your job to fix it. If the council drains on the street are backing up and that causes water to flood onto your property, then that is the council’s responsibility, although you still need to protect your home until they sort it out.
The Hidden Dangers of Ignoring Drainage Problems
When your drains overflow, the first worry is water damaging your home. But if you ignore it, the long-term problems can be much worse and more expensive.
Structural Damage
Water that sits around your house or flows in concentrated streams can soak the soil near your foundations. Over time, this can cause the ground to shift and cracks to appear in walls or the foundation.
Health and Other Damage
Floodwater inside your home can also lead to problems like:
- Mould and mildew: Moisture trapped in walls or under floors is perfect for mould, which is bad for your health. If water has reached your slab or basement, you need to act fast.
- Contamination: Overflowing stormwater can carry dirt and pollutants, which can make your yard or basement unsafe.
As a property owner, you have a duty to make sure your home doesn’t cause environmental harm. This includes keeping your drains and pipes in good shape so polluted water doesn’t flow into streets, or neighbours’ properties.
Stopping It Before It Starts
The best way to handle stormwater overflow is preventing it in the first place. Clear your gutters and downpipes at least twice yearly. Heritage Victoria emphasises that clearing gutters, rainwater heads, and downpipes ensures water flows off your building quickly. Blocked gutters cause water to back up and enter roof spaces, walls, and ceilings. Most people wait until their gutters are completely choked before doing anything, but by then you’ve already got water pooling where it shouldn’t be.
Inspect & Clean
Inspect and clean gully traps and drain pits regularly. These collection points trap debris before it enters your underground drains. A quick visual check after every major storm takes five minutes and can prevent serious blockages. If you see leaves and debris collecting in pits, scoop them out. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s far easier than dealing with a flooded property.
Trim Trees & Manage Vegetation
Trim trees and manage vegetation near drainage systems. According to the Greater Dandenong Council, trees with large invasive root systems can eventually burst or block pipes. Tree roots grow toward water sources, and even small cracks in pipes provide entry points. Once roots get established inside your drains, removing them requires professional help and can mean pipe replacement in severe cases.
Schedule CCTV Drain Inspection
Schedule professional CCTV drain inspections every few years. These camera inspections reveal root intrusion and blockages before they cause overflow. It’s like a health check for your drainage system catching problems early saves thousands in emergency repairs and flood damage. The inspection footage shows you exactly what’s happening underground, which takes the guesswork out of diagnosing problems.
Test Your Drainage System
Test your drainage system before storm season arrives. Run water through downpipes and drains to ensure everything flows freely. If you notice slow drainage, gurgling sounds, or water backing up, get it checked before heavy rain arrives. It’s much cheaper and less stressful to fix drainage issues on a sunny day than during a storm when water’s already backing up into your house.
Keep Drainage Areas Clear Of Garden Waste And Other Debris
Never pile leaves or grass clippings near drains, as they’ll wash straight in during the next storm. It seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many overflow problems start with someone dumping garden waste next to a pit ‘just for a few days’ before disposal.
Ezy-Plumb’s Simple Fixes for Blocked Stormwater
If your drains keep overflowing, it is time to get a licensed Melbourne plumber who actually knows stormwater systems.
High-Pressure Water Jetting
If your drain is blocked with mud, leaves, dirt or small tree roots, a high-pressure water jet is the fastest way to clear it. It blasts water through the pipe and pushes everything out so the drain can flow properly again. It is quick and gets things moving straight away.
Pipe Repair or Relining
Sometimes the camera inspection shows something worse, like a cracked or broken pipe. If that happens, there are two ways to fix it.
Relining is the easy one. A new liner is pushed inside the old pipe so you end up with a strong new pipe without digging up your yard or driveway.
If the pipe has completely collapsed, digging might be needed. The broken bit gets taken out and replaced with a new PVC pipe, and that sorts out the problem for good.
If flooding keeps happening, you have to fix the real issue, not just clear the blockage each time.
Get Your Stormwater Drains Cleared - Call Ezy-Plumb: 0402 169 096 or
Email at info@ezyplumb.com.au
Knowing When to Call for Help
Some drainage issues are DIY-friendly, while others require professional expertise. Call a licensed plumber if water is backing up inside your home through drains or toilets, if you suspect underground pipe damage or major blockages, or if tree roots have infiltrated your drainage system. If your property floods repeatedly despite clear surface drains, you need professional diagnosis. The problem is underground where you can’t see it, and guessing at solutions wastes money.
Call your council if street drains are overflowing and affecting your property, if council infrastructure appears damaged or blocked, or if you need information about your legal discharge point. They can also advise if you’re planning drainage work that may affect council systems.
A professional assessment can identify problems you can’t see, including root intrusion, pipe collapses, incorrect grades, or undersized systems. Camera inspections show exactly what’s happening underground, allowing targeted repairs rather than guesswork. This costs a few hundred dollars but can save thousands by ensuring you fix the actual problem rather than symptoms.
Experiencing persistent drainage problems? Contact Ezy-Plumb for expert diagnosis and lasting solutions.
Don’t Wait for the Next Storm
Melbourne’s weather isn’t getting any milder. Rainfall intensity is increasing, storm events are becoming more severe, and drainage systems designed decades ago struggle to cope.
Start with the basics, such as clearing your gutters, checking your drains, and spotting potential problem areas around your property.
If you’ve had overflow before, it will likely happen again unless you fix the underlying cause. Get professional help for anything beyond simple maintenance. Licensed plumbers have the right equipment and expertise to diagnose complex drainage issues and carry out repairs that last. They’ll make sure the work meets regulations and properly protects your property.
