f your yard is flooding after rain or water is pooling around your driveway, a blocked stormwater drain is almost certainly the cause. The good news is that most stormwater blockages can be cleared without a plumber if you catch them early and know what you are doing.
This guide walks through the DIY steps to unblock a stormwater drain in Adelaide, what causes blockages in the first place, and the signs that tell you it is time to stop and call a licensed plumber instead.
What Is a Stormwater Drain and Who Is Responsible for It?
Stormwater drains collect rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and garden areas and channel it away from your property into the kerb, street drain, or an underground stormwater system.
In Adelaide, you are responsible for the stormwater drainage system on your property. The City of Adelaide and surrounding councils manage the public drainage network the pipes under streets and footpaths but anything from the boundary of your property inward is your responsibility to maintain and repair.
SA Water manages the wastewater (sewerage) network. Stormwater and sewerage are separate systems in Adelaide. Never connect stormwater to the sewer it is illegal and carries significant fines under the SA Environment Protection Act.
If your blockage is in the public drain at the kerb or in the street, contact your local council. If it is on your property, the steps below apply.
Common Causes of Blocked Stormwater Drains in Adelaide
Adelaide properties are particularly susceptible to stormwater blockages for a few reasons:
Leaf and debris accumulation — Adelaide’s hot summers and autumn leaf fall mean grates and pits fill up quickly. Gum leaves are especially problematic because they mat together and form a solid plug over drain openings.
Root infiltration — Adelaide’s clay soils dry out significantly in summer, causing roots to seek moisture in underground pipes. This is a primary cause of slow drainage that gets progressively worse over months.
Sediment and soil washoff — New builds and renovated properties without ground cover produce significant sediment runoff that settles in drain pits and pipes.
Collapsed or cracked pipes — Many Adelaide homes built before the 1980s have terracotta stormwater pipes that crack over time, allowing soil to enter and accumulate.
Incorrectly connected downpipes — Downpipes that drain directly onto impermeable surfaces rather than into a designated drain can overwhelm a system during heavy rain.
How to Unblock a Stormwater Drain : 4 DIY Steps
Before you start, locate your drain pits. Adelaide properties typically have one or more concrete or plastic inspection pits in the yard or driveway. These are the access points for clearing the line.
What you will need: rubber gloves, a garden hose with a jet nozzle, a drain rod set (available at Bunnings from around $35), a garden trowel, and a bucket.
Step 1 — Clear the Grate and Pit
Lift the drain grate. Remove any leaves, soil, roots, or debris by hand. Use a trowel to scoop out sediment from the bottom of the pit. This alone resolves a large proportion of Adelaide stormwater blockages the pit fills up and water simply has nowhere to go.
Rinse the pit with a hose. Check whether water flows through to the next pit or to the street. If it does, the blockage was surface-level and you are done.
Step 2 — Flush with High-Pressure Water
If the pit drains slowly but not freely, connect a garden hose with a jet nozzle and direct the stream into the outlet pipe at the base of the pit. The pressure can dislodge soft blockages like leaf mats and light sediment within the pipe.
Run the hose for 2 to 3 minutes. Check the pit if the water level drops, the blockage is clearing. If the pit fills up and overflows, move to Step 3.
Step 3 — Use a Drain Rod
Insert a drain rod into the outlet pipe at the base of the pit. Push firmly and rotate clockwise to break up the blockage. Add rods as you go deeper. Pull the rod back slowly to remove dislodged material. Flush again with the hose after each pass.
Drain rods are effective for soft blockages caused by leaves, sediment and roots up to about 5 metres into the pipe. For anything deeper or harder, you are reaching the limit of DIY.
Step 4 — Baking Soda and Vinegar Flush (For Odour and Organic Build-up)
If the drain is running but has a foul smell common in Adelaide stormwater pits in summer when stagnant water and leaf decomposition combine pour 1 cup of bicarbonate of soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar into the pit. Leave for 30 minutes, then flush thoroughly with water.
This will not clear a physical blockage, but it breaks down organic matter and reduces odour effectively.
Adelaide Council Rules on Stormwater You Need to Know
Before doing any work on your stormwater system beyond basic pit clearing, there are a few Adelaide-specific regulations to be aware of:
Stormwater cannot be diverted to the street without council approval. If you redirect downpipes or add drainage, you need a Development Application in most Adelaide council areas.
You cannot connect stormwater to the SA Water sewer network. This is a strict legal prohibition. If a plumber suggests connecting your stormwater overflow to the toilet waste pipe, refuse it is illegal.
Significant stormwater works require a licensed plumber or drainer. Under the South Australian Plumbing, Gas and Electrical Licensing Act, any stormwater drainage work that involves connecting to, modifying, or extending a drainage system must be carried out by a licensed plumber.
For properties in flood-prone areas particularly parts of the Adelaide Plains, Tea Tree Gully, and low-lying suburbs near the Torrens catchment the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board has additional guidelines on stormwater management.
When to Stop DIYing and Call a Licensed Plumber
DIY is appropriate for clearing pits, flushing surface blockages and removing leaf buildup. But call a licensed plumber if:
Multiple pits are blocked simultaneously — this points to a blockage or collapse in the main line connecting your pits, not a surface issue.
The drain blocks repeatedly within days of clearing — root infiltration or a collapsed pipe is almost certainly the cause. Clearing it again will not fix the underlying problem.
You can see cracked or displaced pipe sections in the pit — especially relevant in older Adelaide homes with terracotta pipes. Flushing water into a broken pipe can undermine the soil beneath your driveway or foundation.
Water is backing up into downpipes or pooling against the house — a drainage failure this close to the structure requires urgent professional attention to prevent water entering the subfloor or causing damp.
Your stormwater pit has not been cleared in over 2 years — seasonal leaf fall in Adelaide, particularly in garden suburbs like Burnside, Unley, and Mitcham, can allow pits to fill completely between inspections.
You need to connect a new downpipe or drainage channel — this is licensed work in South Australia regardless of how straightforward it appears.
How Much Does It Cost to Clear a Stormwater Drain in Adelaide?
| Service | Typical Cost (Adelaide) |
|---|---|
| Pit clearing (DIY) | Free to $35 (drain rods) |
| High-pressure water jetting (plumber) | $250 to $450 |
| CCTV drain camera inspection | $180 to $350 |
| Root cutting and clearing | $350 to $600 |
| Pipe relining (if collapsed section found) | $800 to $3,000+ |
*Prices shown are estimates only. Contact your plumber for an exact quote based on your property and blockage type.*
After-hours callout fees typically add $80 to $150. Same Day Trades charges no callout fee for stormwater drain work in Adelaide, available 24 hours.
FAQs
Can I unblock a stormwater drain myself in Adelaide?
Yes clearing a blocked pit, removing leaf debris and flushing the line with a garden hose or drain rod are all tasks a homeowner can do. You do not need a licence for basic maintenance. However, any work that modifies, extends or connects to a drainage system requires a licensed plumber under South Australian law.
What is the difference between stormwater and sewerage in Adelaide?
Stormwater drains collect rainwater runoff from your roof, driveway and garden. Sewerage pipes carry wastewater from toilets, sinks and showers to SA Water’s treatment network. They are completely separate systems. It is illegal to connect stormwater to the sewer in South Australia.
How often should I clean my stormwater drains in Adelaide?
At minimum, clear grates and inspect pits twice a year before winter (when Adelaide’s rainfall is highest, typically June to August) and after autumn leaf fall. Properties with large deciduous trees or pine trees should check pits quarterly.
Who do I call if the blocked drain is in the street or at the kerb?
Contact your local council. Adelaide City Council, City of Burnside, City of Unley and other metropolitan councils each have a separate drainage maintenance number. The public drain system from the kerb inward is their responsibility, not SA Water’s.
Will tree roots grow back after clearing a stormwater drain?
Yes cutting roots clears the blockage but does not remove the entry point. Roots will regrow through the same crack or join within months. The permanent fix is pipe relining, which seals the pipe interior and eliminates root entry points. Relining typically carries a 25 to 50 year warranty.
How do I know if my stormwater pipe has collapsed?
Signs include: a section of driveway or lawn that has sunk or cracked; water that drains extremely slowly even after pit clearing; a CCTV inspection showing a deformed or crushed pipe section. Collapsed stormwater pipes are more common in Adelaide homes built before 1985, particularly those with terracotta clay pipes.
Need a Stormwater Drain Plumber in Adelaide?
Same Day Trades provides 24/7 stormwater drain services across Adelaide with no callout fee. Our licensed Adelaide plumbers carry CCTV cameras, hydro jet equipment and drain rods on every van.
Adelaide blocked drain plumber | Call 1300 632 094
