Plumbing approval comes first
Devonport City Council says the property owner must lodge a plumbing application with plans before plumbing work begins, and work can't start until approval is issued. That covers new or altered sewer and stormwater drains and new fixtures, including hot and cold water piping. Council warns that substantial penalties apply to work done without approval.
Where TasWater issues a Certificate of Certifiable Works, the owner obtains a Water and Sewerage Compliance Certificate from TasWater and hands it to Council when the work is finished.
Downpipes into the sewer
Council is investigating stormwater connected to the sewer, using smoke and dye testing and CCTV. Where it finds one, it issues a Notice that stays on the property title until the problem is fixed. A common sign is roof downpipes pointing into the sewer gully trap outside. Council says stormwater in the sewer risks sewage backing up into the house or yard in heavy rain.
Devonport facts
Council's drain network
Devonport City Council maintains over 13 km of open drains, 210 km of stormwater pipes, 3,250 stormwater manholes and 3,050 pits.
Your service pipes
Council's plumbing page says owners must maintain the service pipes on their property.
Houses, some units
At the 2021 Census, 87.2% of occupied homes in the Devonport City Council area were separate houses and 11.5% townhouses or semis. 31.8% were rented, against 26.4% across Tasmania.
TasWater's part
TasWater is Tasmania's one statewide water and sewerage utility. On its rule, the private sewer line runs from the connection point, usually the inspection opening, up to the house, and that stretch is the customer's.
For a blockage, TasWater says call your plumber first, and contact TasWater if the plumber finds the problem is in its system. Plumbers can't work on TasWater infrastructure without its permission, and it won't accept charges for unauthorised work on its pipes. Our sewer pipe guide compares water companies.
Licences and hot water
Tasmania licenses contractors and practitioners separately under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005. Section 38(2) bars representing that anyone is prepared to contract for plumbing unless the intended contractor holds a contractor licence of the right class, so ask for the business's contractor licence number.
Replacing a hot water heater in Tasmania means fitting a temperature control device, unless you're swapping one unit within a bank of heaters. See the Tasmania page and tempering valves.
What we would do
Before a Devonport plumber starts, ask whether the job needs Council's plumbing approval and who will lodge the application. If your downpipes run into the gully trap, have them redirected to stormwater now rather than waiting for a Notice on your title. And for a blockage, let the plumber find it before anyone calls TasWater, as TasWater asks.