Glen Waverley, plumbing-wise
Owned outright
41.0% of occupied homes in the suburb of Glen Waverley were owned outright at the 2021 Census, well above Victoria's 32.2%. 79.1% were separate houses.
Roots follow faults
Monash says roots from large trees can come into contact with buildings and pipes, but faulty infrastructure is generally the primary cause.
Private drains are yours
Owners are responsible for all private drains within and from their property; Council handles the pipes and pits in the street and most easements.
Permit to connect
A Stormwater Connection Permit is needed before anyone connects to or changes Council's drains, and inspections are part of it.
Tree roots in a Glen Waverley drain
Council doesn't maintain trees on private land, and any work on private property is the owner's job. Its advice is to keep pipes in good repair, because a fault generally comes first and the roots second.
So when roots block a drain, clearing them is only half the job. Ask the tree roots specialist what let them in, and whether a CCTV drain inspection would show the damaged section.
Roots in Council's own drains are Council's problem. Monash says that once they're reported, the drain is inspected, the roots cut and the line cleared.
Connecting to Council's stormwater
A new or changed connection must follow the property's Legal Point of Discharge and needs a Stormwater Connection Permit, with Council inspections. If you're adding an extension or a new driveway drain, ask the plumber to allow for both.
Monash's flood standard is to act when water directly affects the inside of a home. For a blockage in your own private drain, Council's advice is to get a registered plumber's view.
Yarra Valley Water and your hot water
The water meter and stop tap belong to Yarra Valley Water; past the meter, the plumbing is yours. For a sewer job, ask it to confirm where its branch ends at your property, since its two published versions don't match.
With so many homes owner-occupied, the 2027 gas rule is relevant. From 1 March 2027, gas hot water in an existing home must be replaced with an efficient electric system once it reaches end-of-life, though repairs are still allowed. Yarra Valley Water's 2025-26 report gives mean hardness of 10 to 43 mg/L across its sampling areas, far under the 200 mg/L guideline meant to limit scale in hot water systems. See heat pump hot water in Melbourne.
What we would do
If roots keep coming back in the same drain, stop paying to clear them and find the fault. A camera inspection can show the cracked joint or broken section, and keeping pipes in good repair is Monash's own advice. If the trouble is in Council's drain instead, report it and let Council deal with its roots. For anything on your side, tell us about it and local drain specialists with a checked licence will see the job.