Mordialloc facts that affect plumbing
Townhouse country
At the 2021 Census, 45.6% of the suburb's occupied homes were semis, terraces or townhouses, against 13.9% across Victoria. 39.8% were separate houses and 14.2% flats or apartments.
Tides and drains
VICSES says a high or incoming tide can slow Kingston's stormwater drains, and big storms can push water back up around pits. It names the Mordialloc Settlement Drain among those affected.
One sewer company
Kingston City Council names South East Water as the operator of the sewerage system for Melbourne's south-east, and Mordialloc is on South East Water's suburb list.
Groundwater is separate
Southern Rural Water is responsible for groundwater, and Council isn't required to accept groundwater into its stormwater system.
When the tide is in
Kingston's flooding page puts the drainage inside your property, and the outlet from your boundary to the kerb and channel, on the owner. VICSES adds the local twist: the land is flat and close to the bay, so tidal flows can cut how fast the drains empty, and an extreme storm can force water back above ground around pits.
So if your yard pit backs up during a storm at high tide, give the rain and the tide time to ease before judging the pipe. If it still won't drain on a dry day, a blocked drains specialist can find out why.
Your sewer line and South East Water's
Your sewer runs from the house to an inspection opening, normally close to the boundary. South East Water maintains the sewer past that opening; the pipes and fittings on the house side are the owner's.
If a blockage proves to be on South East Water's side, it pays back fair and reasonable costs, but only when the plumber referred the job to it. It won't reimburse a clearance where CCTV or a high-pressure water jet was used, or where tree roots were cleared.
Shared pipes in a townhouse
With this many townhouses, shared pipework is common. South East Water describes a combined drain as a privately owned sewer pipe, and it doesn't look after shared private water or sewer pipes in an owners' corporation. If a blockage affects more than one home, agree with the neighbours or the owners corporation who is paying before the plumber starts.
What we would do
Look at timing before you book a drain clean. A stormwater pit that only backs up in a storm on a high tide may be the drains behaving as VICSES describes, not a blockage on your block. One that stays full on a dry day deserves a visit. For sewer trouble, find your inspection opening first. If the blockage is past it, ask the plumber to refer it to South East Water rather than clear it.