Sewage came up through a floor drain during a Pakenham storm. What now?

Keep away from it and stop using fixtures that drain to that line. VICSES lists sewage overflows inside buildings as a flood impact. Once the rain eases, a drain specialist can check your line, and if the blockage is on South East Water's side the plumber should refer it.

Plumbers in Pakenham: creek flooding, drains and new estates

Q: Do new homes in Pakenham East get recycled water?

The precinct plan requires each subdivision, subject to South East Water agreeing, to have a dual pipe recycled water system supplying all allotments. Purple taps and a purple meter show you're connected.

Plumbers in Pakenham Floods, drains, new estates.

Pakenham is in Cardinia Shire, and South East Water runs its water and sewer. VICSES says the town has had flash flooding every year for the last ten years, so it pays to know what a storm does to your drains. Describe the problem and a licence-checked plumber who specialises in that job can respond.

Pakenham facts that shape the job

Houses, mortgages, renters

At the 2021 Census, 86.4% of occupied homes in the suburb were separate houses. 46.3% were owned with a mortgage and 30.8% rented, both above the Victorian figures.

Four creeks

Pakenham Creek runs through the town centre and typically floods first. Prolonged rain can also overflow Toomuc Creek to the west, Deep Creek to the east and Kennedy Creek through the centre.

Slow to drain away

VICSES says Pakenham floods can last several days, because water moves slowly over the flat and gently rolling land. On 5 February 2011 a 1 in 100-year event occurred.

Recycled water out east

The Pakenham East Precinct Structure Plan requires each subdivision, subject to South East Water agreeing, to have a dual pipe recycled water system supplying every allotment.

When floodwater meets the sewer

VICSES lists sewage overflowing inside buildings among the ways floods hit homes, and says even minor floods can push water up through drains in nearby streets. In a January 2020 flash flood it took 32 requests for help in a single day.

If a toilet or floor waste backs up in heavy rain, stop flushing and running taps that drain to it. If it still won't drain once the rain stops, call a blocked drains plumber, or an emergency plumber if sewage is coming inside.

Your sewer and South East Water's

South East Water maintains the sewer as far as your inspection opening, usually close to the boundary. Between that opening and the house, the pipes belong to you. When a blockage proves to be on its side, ask the plumber to refer it rather than clear it, because South East Water only repays costs for referred blockages.

Pakenham East and recycled water

The Pakenham East precinct covers 629.95 hectares between Deep Creek and Ryan Road on the west and Mount Ararat Road on the east, and is planned for about 7,229 dwellings. South East Water has been laying about 12 km of drinking water, recycled water and sewer mains to serve it.

Recycled water arrives through a second set of pipes. Class A, the only grade certified for homes, is made at plants including South East Water's Pakenham plant. Purple taps mean that supply: never drink it, and get the connection checked each year and after any plumbing or landscaping work.

What we would do

Before winter, clear your yard pits and gutters and find the sewer inspection opening. If you live near one of the creeks, look up the VICSES Pakenham flood guide map. When a drain backs up, note whether it happened in heavy rain or on a dry day. It helps the plumber who takes your job tell an overloaded system from a real blockage.