Sewer blockage? East Gippsland Water first
East Gippsland Water's customer charter requires customers, plumbers and contractors to contact it first about a sewer blockage. It then attends to decide who is responsible for clearing it. If it isn't called first and given the chance to check whether its asset is the cause, it won't cover the cost of work the plumber or contractor did beforehand.
Where East Gippsland Water's sewer drain ends
| East Gippsland Water maintains up to | |
|---|---|
| Main inside your block | The first inspection opening after the main, or one metre from the main if that opening is further away or missing |
| Main outside your block | The first inspection opening inside your boundary, or one metre inside it if there's no opening within that distance |
| Building at or near the boundary | One metre outside the building line, where the main runs outside the property |
The owner looks after the rest of the drain, plus combined drains that sit on another serviced property and drains from private extensions.
Bairnsdale facts
Mitchell River water
East Gippsland Water draws from the Mitchell River at Glenaladale, treats the water at the Woodglen Water Treatment Plant and stores it at Wy Yung, which serves Bairnsdale and district.
Houses and renters
At the 2021 Census, 84.3% of occupied homes in the suburb of Bairnsdale were separate houses and 14.4% townhouses or semis. 33.4% were rented, against 28.5% statewide.
Stormwater is the owner's to dispose of
East Gippsland Shire Council looks after kerb and channel and barrel drains; owners connect their buildings' drainage to them.
Building, extending or on septic
If a building permit includes stormwater drainage, the Shire needs an application about the point of discharge. Away from the sewer, building a house or adding bedrooms means a permit to install or alter a septic system, and a Permit to Use follows only after inspections and the plumber's compliance certificate. See septic systems and stormwater.
Victoria-wide rules
Gas hot water in existing homes changes from 1 March 2027: once a gas system is at end of life, the replacement must be an efficient electric one, such as a heat pump. A working unit can stay and be repaired. Check current rules, since the instrument wasn't found.
Plumbers are registered or licensed by class through the Building and Plumbing Commission, and a licensed plumber issues the compliance certificate. Our compliance certificates guide explains when to expect one, and the Victoria page has the rest.
What we would do
If sewage is backing up, ring East Gippsland Water before the plumber starts, and tell the plumber you've done it. Note the time and any reference number. Skipping that call means East Gippsland Water won't cover work done before it was told, even if the blockage turns out to be in its pipe.