Got a blockage?
A sewer pipe blockage can be caused by things such as seasonal changes, growing tree roots, varying ground conditions, flushing of wet wipes, or just general wear and tear.
The following provides a guide to let you know who’s responsible for getting things flowing again.
Who’s responsible?
Find out who’s responsible for what part of your sewer service in the details and diagrams below.
What are we responsible for?
If the sewer main is located inside the property boundary, we’ll fix any issue from our sewer main up to:
(1) The first inspection opening installed after the sewer main; or
(2) One metre from the sewer main if the first inspection opening is located more than one metre from the sewer main; or
(3) One metre from the sewer main if there is no inspection opening.
If the sewer main is located outside the property boundary, we’ll fix any issue from our sewer main up to:
(4) The first inspection opening installed inside the property boundary; or
(5) One metre inside the property boundary if there is no inspection opening located within the property boundary; or
(6) One metre outside the building line if the building line is located at or near the property boundary.
What are you responsible for?
The property owner is responsible for repairing:
(7) Parts of the sewer property drain that we are not responsible for maintaining (outlined at items (1) to (6) under “What we’re responsible for”)
(8) Combined sewer property drains located on another serviced property; and
(9) Sewer property drains from private extensions or private agreements.
Reimbursing plumbing expenses
What happens if you call a plumber who finds the sewer blockage to be in a section of pipe that we’re responsible for?
- The plumber will let us know and invoice us for a spotter’s fee ($85)
- If the plumber bills you for the time spent locating the blockage, we will reimburse you for the reasonable costs incurred. Contact us for a reimbursement claim form.
- We’ll come to your property to clear the blockage at no cost to you. Or we may choose to engage the plumber on-site to fix the issue.
- Unless we agree otherwise, we won’t reimburse for costs associated with the installation of an inspection shaft, as this is the responsibility of the property owner.
- Costs associated with works on any part of the sewer connection drain that the property owner is responsible for maintaining.
Protect your pipes
