Stormwater FAQs

Stormwater is rain that runs off our roads, footpaths, driveways, hard landscaped areas and from our roof gutters into the stormwater system and eventually into our streams, rivers and sea. Unlike wastewater, which gets treated at a treatment plant, much of stormwater does not get treated. This means everything that goes into the stormwater system will eventually end up at sea. We all share a responsibility for keeping our stormwater system clean so our environment is not negatively impacted.

Council's typically own and manage Three Waters assets: drinking water, wastewater (including trade waste) and stormwater.

In order to connect to one of our stormwater systems, you must apply in writing to us using this Application for Service Connection form. Your application must be accompanied by the prescribed charges and assessment of required attenuation measures. Clause 9 of the Stormwater Bylaw explains in full what is required in order to connect to Council's stormwater drainage network. 

All new connections to Council's stormwater networks are at the applicant's expense and must be installed by a Council-approved contractor.

Council’s stormwater management extends to Council assets only, which you can view on this map. Drainage issues that are unrelated to Council assets are generally the responsibility of private landowners to remediate.

To improve the performance of your stormwater drains:

• be aware of flow paths through your property; look at ground levels and observe how water flows during rain events.
• remove obstructions to flow; obstructions can gather debris, blocking the drainage channel. 
• direct flows away from buildings and structures.
• look at your downpipes; if they discharge onto the ground, consider whether you want stormwater in that location.
• talk to the experts! Local drainlayers are essential when dealing with drainage issues.

To learn how you can actively manage contaminants on your property and prevent blockages in our stormwater network, read our practice note here. For those not connected to the Council's stormwater network, complete and submit this form to connect to a Council asset nearby.

Every property owner should check their stormwater system. Have a look outside and if it looks like stormwater is or could be going into the wastewater system, you must get it fixed. Stormwater is most likely to enter the wastewater gully trap from either a downpipe directly discharging to it, or runoff and ponding from the surrounding area overtopping into the wastewater gully trap.

Alteration or blockage of the stormwater network is prohibited by the Stormwater Bylaw 2021 and can restrict flow to the network. These are primarily caused by stock fences, which can trap debris and are especially problematic when willow saplings establish in the stream, blocking flow. If you see a blockage, please call us anytime on 06 857 8060 or report it using the Snap, Send Solve app.

Where restrictions and blockages are present, we are enforcing under the provisions of the Stormwater Bylaw 2021.

The urban drainage network is mostly controlled by Council while drains on private rural land are the responsibility of the landowner to maintain. If an informal drain or ponding area is present on your property, it is under your ownership and management. We have a register of drains and flow paths across the district, which you can view on this map. We are working on improving our policies and mapping private and public drainage to provide greater clarity. 

We have heard your concerns around litter and green waste in our drains and are working with perpetrators to stop the practice. Community reporting is one of the main ways we identify stormwater contamination so please continue to report litter and liquid waste in stormwater by calling us anytime on 06 857 8060. Thank you for your mahi!

We have developed an initial draft maintenance plan that outlines the frequency and extent of open and piped drain maintenance. We continue to refine this plan with key stakeholders.

Information regarding residential zoning in flood-prone areas is available in our District Plan. Submissions regarding our District Plan are currently closed; however, if you have feedback regarding residential zoning, please email districtplan@chbdc.govt.nz or phone us anytime on 06 857 8060.

To ensure stormwater flows do not exceed predevelopment levels, we use hydraulic analysis of the site and risk mitigations such as tanks and ponds. We also assess the disposal method for effects to neighbouring properties, and protect existing watercourses and overland flow paths as required. We also collect financial development contributions that can be used for public-side services such as stormwater.

Corrective maintenance addresses those open drains where maintenance has been deferred or not carried out. These typically require intensive works to return them to their original design dimensions and performance. Most of our stormwater work since Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 has been corrective works. We have been focused on critical channels and are now extending this maintenance to some smaller drains that act as conduits or tributaries to the main drainage channel.

This refers to the day-to-day maintenance of the drain and aims to keep the drain functioning as per its design parameters. From July 2024, routine maintenance will be implemented in Waipawa and Waipukurau, with regularly scheduled vegetation clearance and excavation in open channels. The frequency of works will be dependent on the criticality of the drain.

A council may require a Stormwater Drainage Protection Plan to manage stormwater discharges from sites or premises where there is reasonable probability that contamination could enter the public stormwater system. The plan is to help ensure a site or premises is managed in such a way to protect the stormwater system and provides a written record so that the site or premises owner and their employees know how to minimise the potential for pollution to occur.

If it is an emergency, dial 111 immediately for Emergency Services before contacting us.

If you would like to report something that is not an emergency, you can call us anytime on 06 857 8060 or use our Snap, Send, Solve app and our team will help you. 

Bylaws are rules or regulations made by councils. Our Stormwater Bylaw help us control the management and discharge of stormwater from both public and private stormwater drainage systems. It ensures we are doing our part to protect the environment and maintain public health and safety through the management of stormwater

Maintenance of a private stormwater drainage system is the responsibility of the property owner. This means that all private pipes, gutters, storage or treatment devices and any other components of the private system should be in good working order and not causing nuisance by flooding or discharge of contaminants.

Together with our consultant partners, we have developed a programme of easily implemented performance improvements to the network and are currently working through these recommendations. The programme includes bank stabilisation, pipe upsizing, flap valve investigation and stream restoration. This programme is planned to continue over the next few years, subject to the finalised stormwater strategy.

Addressing the flood risk for our stormwater systems requires an holistic approach. Some of the factors affecting flooding can be addressed more easily than others. Our technical advisers have identified those projects that will provide the greatest flood risk mitigation most easily in the short term, and these will be carried out as part of Phase 1 of Stormwater Strategy.

The longer-term, high-value work to be addressed as part of Phase 2 of Stormwater Strategy will take the same holistic approach and address all the flood risks factors.

Together with our consultant partners, we have developed a maintenance plan outlining the frequency and extent of open drain maintenance required, which includes recommendations for best practice maintenance and lifting the level of service provided to our community.