What is it?
In heavy rain, the volume of stormwater draining from roofs and roads can exceed the capacity of our pipes. Diluted wastewater can overflow into private properties and the wider environment.
What is it caused by?
Stormwater can enter the wastewater system directly through things such as low lying house gully traps, stormwater down pipes accidentally connected to the wastewater system, and manhole vents. Groundwater can enter through cracks in underground private or public pipes.
What needs to be done?
You can help by ensuring your stormwater downpipe does not directly connect to your gully trap.
Council has a continuing programme of work to reduce wastewater overflows, by reducing the amount of inflow and infiltration into its wastewater network as well as increasing the capacity of the network.