Wastewater FAQs

Wastewater, also known as sewerage, is all of the used water that goes down sinks, washing machines, showers, baths and toilets. It always leaves your premises and is never delivered, unlike drinking water. It consists mostly of water but can include organic matter, human waste, food scraps, cooking waste and debris, such as sand, grit and plastic.

Wastewater drains from a property's internal plumbing into gully traps and private wastewater pipes (also known as drains, sewers and sewerage pipes) on your property, which are connected to Council's public wastewater network. Once in our wastewater network, the wastewater is carried to a treatment plant for treating.

If you are having problems with water not draining away in your home or business, you may need to call a plumber or drainlayer to investigate the cause.

We will address any issues that are caused by Council's wastewater pipes, which are generally located outside of private property. Any problems inside private property are to be managed by the property owner.

A plumber or drainlayer should be able to tell you what is causing the problem and how it can be fixed. 

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 us immediately on 06 587 8060. Under no circumstances is the owner or drainlayer allowed to excavate anywhere in the road reserve.

We own and manage the wastewater pipework up to and including the service valve (water toby) or meter on a property but we are not responsible for any pipes, fittings or faults beyond the point of supply, inside private property. It is the property owner's responsibility to address faults and pay repairs for any issues inside of private property.

If you find any leaks on pipes or fittings that are on your side of the point of supply, please contact your plumber or drainlayer for prompt repair. Council will not pay for camera inspections or jet cleaning to determine the source of the problem inside of private property.

If you see water leaking from a hydrant, a toby (your main water service valve) or anywhere else that is not on your property or your side of the point of supply, contact us immediately on 06 857 8060 and we will investigate the issue and refer it for service.

Members of the public, plumbers or drainlayers must not lift a manhole lid or enter a manhole, under any circumstances. Manholes can be extremely dangerous and have caused numerous fatalities in the past. Under the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992, sewer manholes, stormwater manholes and wet wells are designated as confined spaces and therefore must not be opened or entered.