Ellenbrook facts that matter
Houses and mortgages
At the 2021 Census, 89.3% of the suburb's occupied homes were separate houses and 9.0% townhouses, terraces or semis. 58.2% were owned with a mortgage and 24.6% rented.
Only rain in the drain
The City of Swan doesn't permit any waste water other than rainwater in a stormwater drain. For most properties, waste water goes to Water Corporation's sewer.
Grey water needs approval
Installing a grey water system means applying to the City first. Installing a waste water system without approval, or using it before the final inspection, is an offence.
Flash floods
The City says flash and riverine flooding are common in Swan, and localised flash flooding can follow heavy rain.
Your plumbing, Water Corporation's sewer
The City puts the plumbing on your property, up to the sewer connection point, on the owner. A fault in Water Corporation's sewer goes to Water Corporation.
That connection point is the junction on Water Corporation's main, so clearing a blockage on the house side of it is the owner's cost.
Water Corporation's list of owner duties includes not using a food waste disposal unit that drains into its main, and using WaterMark or Standards Mark approved pipes and fittings.
Street trees and storms
The City prunes and maintains verge trees. Don't prune or remove one yourself: removal needs the City's approval, and so does planting on City land.
Before winter, have gutters, downpipes and soakwells checked so heavy rain has somewhere to go.
In WA, installing or replacing a water heater is major work that comes with a certificate of compliance. See hot water in Perth, emergency plumbers or blocked drains.
What we would do
Thinking about reusing laundry or shower water on the garden? Apply to the City of Swan before anything is installed, and use a licensed plumber. Never send washing water down the street drain, because in Swan only rain belongs there. If sewage backs up, ask the plumber to confirm which side of the junction the blockage is on before agreeing to a big job.