Wastewater Questions

Wastewater Questions

Q. What is wastewater?

• Wastewater is all of the used water that goes down a sink, bathroom or toilet drain. It always leaves your premises and is never delivered (unlike drinking water). Wastewater is also called sewage and wastewater pipes are known as drains, sewers or sewerage.

Q. What should you\ I do if my toilet, shower or bath is blocked (i.e. the water won’t drain away)?

• You may need to call a plumber/drain layer to investigate the cause. The Council will fix issues that are caused by the Council’s sewer pipes, which are generally outside private property. Any problems inside private property are to be managed by the property owner.

Q. How do I know what has caused the problem?

• A plumber/drain layer should be able to tell you what is causing the problem, and how it can be fixed. 

Q. How long could it take to find the problem?

• In most cases locating and exposing an inspection point at the boundary will take less than two hours. If a problem is found at the boundary you should contact the Council. Under no circumstances is the owner or drain layer allowed to excavate anywhere in the road reserve.

Q. What won't the Council fix?

• The Council will not fix or pay for any issues that are caused by faults inside of private property. Please note that the Council will not pay for camera inspections or jet cleaning.

Q. Am I allowed to check manholes?

• Under no circumstances are members of the public, plumbers, or drain layers allowed to lift a manhole lid or enter a manhole. Manholes can be extremely dangerous and have caused numerous fatalities in the past. Under the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992 Sewer Manholes, Storm Water Manholes and Wet Wells are designated as confined spaces and therefore must not be opened or entered.