Keysborough facts
Family houses
At the 2021 Census, 89.5% of occupied homes in the suburb of Keysborough were separate houses. The average household had 3.2 people, and 46.7% of homes were mortgaged.
Two drainage authorities
Greater Dandenong says stormwater is managed between Melbourne Water, which runs the main drains, and Council, which runs the rest of the public system.
Your drain past the boundary
Owners are responsible for the stormwater drains on their land, and for any part of their private drain outside it that connects to the legal point of discharge.
One water company
Keysborough is on South East Water's supply list, so its rules on sewer pipes, water leaks and blockage refunds apply.
A blocked sewer: before anyone clears it
The handover point is the inspection opening, which is often near your boundary. South East Water maintains the sewer on its side of that fitting; the pipes running from it up to the house are yours.
If the blockage is on South East Water's side, it reimburses fair and reasonable costs. It won't pay where the plumber didn't refer the blockage to it, used CCTV or a high-pressure water jet, or cleared tree roots. Digging to find your inspection point or boundary trap isn't covered either.
For water leaks, South East Water is responsible for the meter and the pipes from the street to it. From the meter to the house, the pipe is the owner's.
Stormwater in Greater Dandenong
Council lists the habits that strain its drains. Poorly maintained private drains block early. New driveways and paths send more water across the ground than an old drain can carry. Sheds and landscaping often end up over easements.
Roots are the other cause it names: once a pipe is cracked or leaking, roots grow in and can fill it. Under section 16 of the Water Act 1989, residents have a duty of care not to interfere with the flow of water. See our tree roots page and stormwater page, or blocked drains in Melbourne and a blocked toilet.
What we would do
If a sewer drain backs up, lift the cap on the inspection opening before you call anyone, if you can do it safely. Water sitting in it often means the blockage is further down, possibly on South East Water's side, so ask the plumber to refer it to South East Water instead of jetting it. A dry opening points to a blockage between it and the house, which is yours to have cleared.