Wastewater Fix

Wastewater and stormwater are managed using two separate systems.

• Wastewater is the water that we collect from kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and toilets.
• Stormwater is rainwater that runs from roofs and over land into stormwater drains, and flows into local waterways.

When it rains, stormwater can get into our wastewater pipes and the system can overload. This can cause wastewater to overflow into local waterways as well as on private properties, including inside homes.

The most common ways for stormwater to get into our wastewater system is through:

• damaged maintenance holes
• stormwater downpipes incorrectly connected to private wastewater pipes or drains
• cracked, damaged or poorly sealed private wastewater pipes and fittings that can allow groundwater to enter
• damaged or low-lying overflow relief gullies, which should operate like a safety valve and prevent stormwater from entering private wastewater pipes.

Our inspections include visual checks and smoke testing of private wastewater and stormwater pipes and connections. This is to make sure they're functioning correctly and connected properly.

Visual inspections

We'll take photos and videos as required to document our inspections. We will look at:

• maintenance holes – to make sure they are sealed and not damaged
• stormwater downpipes – to check they are not connected to a wastewater overflow relief gully or wastewater pipes
• drainage channels and stormwater drains – to make sure they are not collecting ground and surface water that lead to an overflow relief gully
• overflow relief gullies (gully traps) – to check whether they are damaged or too close to the ground, so surface and stormwater can enter the wastewater system.

Smoke testing

A small amount of smoke will be pumped into your private wastewater system from the inspection opening or maintenance hole on each property. The smoke is more like a mist. It is environmentally safe and will disappear after a few minutes without any odour. The noise from the generator that provides power to the smoke machine sounds similar to a lawn mower and will run for short periods during the testing.

Smoke testing is an effective and helpful way to:

• show us if our wastewater maintenance hole is damaged
• check for leaks in pipes and fixtures
• locate where cracked, broken or unsealed pipes or joints are underground
• find out if stormwater downpipes are incorrectly connected to the wastewater system.

If smoke escapes from the wastewater system, it will be visible above ground. This will show us where there may be damage or incorrect connections. We can investigate and plan repairs or improvements.

We'll update property owners and residents about one week before we expect to start our inspections. Smoke testing may need to be postponed if it’s raining, cloudy or the ground is too wet.

You don't need to be at home during the inspection, but we'll need your help each day during the week that our work is planned on your property.

Please:

• ensure pets are safely secured, gates are unlocked and we can safely access the front and back yards of your property
• put some water in all your sinks, and make sure any floor drains in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry are covered.

It’s normal to see smoke coming out of your private wastewater vent pipes, which are usually located on the roof or side of the house. This shows that the vent pipes are in good working order and your wastewater system is connected correctly.

You may see smoke coming from the outside drains or gutters on the property, and sometimes it might enter the home through the laundry, kitchen, or bathroom drains. This is why we ask you to put some water in your sinks and cover your floor drains during the inspection. 

The smoke does not indicate a fire, but please let our team know if you see smoke in your home during our inspections. The smoke will clear in a few minutes with normal ventilation.

We've notified NSW Fire and Rescue and NSW Police about our smoke testing work in your area. We'll have signs in place to let the community know about our inspections.

We'll leave a card in your letterbox to let you know when we've finished our inspection.

Once our inspections are done we'll advise property owners about any improvements we identified at the property. This includes providing details of the required repairs, what steps can be taken, or how we can help.

Emergency Relief Structures help prevent wastewater overflows from being released through maintenance holes or private plumbing connections. They are effective in protecting homes and the wastewater system from damage, particularly during extreme wet weather, by stopping uncontrolled wastewater overflows in low-lying areas.

Our wastewater system is designed to have additional capacity to contain extra stormwater flows entering the system during and after heavy rainfall. In extreme wet weather events, wastewater flows can exceed the system's capacity. This leads to the mixed increase of wastewater and stormwater flows discharging at the designed overflow points through the Emergency Relief Structures.

The repairs and upgrades to our Emergency Relief Structures will ensure that we continue to provide a safe and reliable wastewater system to protect the environment and the health of our communities.