Stormwater management is crucial in Adelaide for any low-lying or sloped properties.

Adelaide receives more than half of its average yearly rainfall between May and August.

Yet storms outside of those months, particularly in spring, have been known to produce significant damage with exceptionally heavy downpours.

One of the most recent occurrences was in November, 2023 when Adelaide was battered with 33.6mm in just 12 hours, more than the expected average for that entire month.

That’s why Adelaide homeowners need to prepare themselves for heavy rainfall events that produce excessive amounts of stormwater.

So too property managers who are charged with maintaining communal areas and keeping garages and basements free from pooled water.

While builders designing new homes or renovating existing ones should be considering the type of stormwater management systems best suited to their build.

Failure to cope with stormwater may result in water damage that can run into thousands of dollars including damage to building structures, flooded basements, garden erosion and dreaded mould issues.

Homeowners may also be liable for damage their stormwater runoff causes a neighbour as well as being fined for non-compliance.

What is stormwater?

By definition, stormwater is rainwater that runs off your roof, driveway and other hard areas without soaking into the ground.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) oversees stormwater management in South Australia.

However, local Adelaide councils have their own specific by-laws regarding pipe sizes, requirement for rainwater tanks or retention systems designed to ease the pressure on public infrastructure. 

Homeowners are obliged to observe their local by-laws and ensure their property’s stormwater drains connect to their council’s LPOD (legal point of discharge) and remain free of pollutants.

The nominated LPOD is normally the kerb or a council drain.

Failure to comply with those obligations may attract an on-the-spot fine of $300 and lead to an Environment Protection Order (EPO), prosecution and greater penalties.

That’s why properties in danger of flooding may need to consider measures to better manage stormwater.

Ways to manage stormwater

There are a number of measures homeowners can consider to help them better manage their stormwater.

Like all plumbing systems, devices designed specifically to manage stormwater runoff require regular maintenance and will fail if neglected.

System design for new builds

Properties at high risk should be built with multiple stormwater runoff features in mind.

They includes features like permeable paving, swales, pumps, underground sumps and infiltration trenches to direct excess water toward vegetation or treatment facilities.

These kind of systems have multiple parts which all require regular maintenance.

Sump and pump systems

These remove accumulated water and prevent flooding by automatically activating and pumping out water when it rises to a certain level.

However, they operate on electricity and will be rendered useless in a power failure that so often follows a major storm unless accompanied by a battery back-up.

A sump motor can fail if it becomes overwhelmed due to heavy use and normally needs replacing after 10 years.

The float switch, which activates the sump, can get jammed in the ‘on’ or ‘off’ position.

It is prone to freezing in subzero temperatures and also needs regular cleaning to prevent blockages due to dirt and other debris.

Stormwater pit

This is an enclosed pit that collects and temporarily stores surface water before sending it to a drain or sump for disposal.

Tree roots, mud and other backyard debris can restrict water flow making it ineffective.

Collapsing pipes or other structural issues such as inadequate pipe size or slope may also lead to failure.

Soakaway

Similar to a pit, soakaways collect large amounts of water, releasing it slowly into the ground, not dissimilar to a coffee percolator.

Like pits, they are vulnerable to blockages caused by sludge, wipes and tree root intrusion and may also fail to cope with excessive rainfall that produces very high water tables.

Surface water lines

These are part of a bigger system of underground pipes that collect and steer excess water from roofs and driveways toward a soakaway, creek, river or kerbside stormwater drain.

Like all underground pipes, they may suffer blockages from tree root intrusion or damage from soil movement.

Pipe corrosion, high water pressure or extreme temperatures that cause pipes to expand and contract may also damage the system.

Rainwater tanks

Thesehelp ease pressure on existing downpipes and drains while also conserving water and reducing water bills.

But the tanks need regular maintenance to guard against tree root intrusion along with the buildup of algae or sediment.

They may also deteriorate due to corrosion or long exposure to the sun, producing cracks and leaks.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

WSUD is a modern approach to stormwater management and water conservation.

It incorporates permeable pavements, bio-retention basins and rain gardens designed to filter stormwater runoff before it enters drains.

The system works well but demands regular maintenance and is prone to blockages and soil compaction like any outdoor pipes.

After the storm

Hopefully, whatever stormwater management system you have employed has operated to its capacity during a storm.

Immediately after the storm is when you should be checking to ensure your system’s continued functionality and effectiveness.

Make sure that all the water has drained away as designed, inspecting pits, soakaways and sumps.

Check your pump’s motor as well as its battery back-up if you have one.

Clean grates where necessary and inspect outlet lines to ensure they remain clear of debris.

After the storm is also the ideal time to book some general maintenance.

Get expert plumbing support and advice today

If you already own a stormwater management system or are curious about the type of system best suited to your property, the experts at James Smith Plumbing can help solve all your problems.

JSP is one of South Australia’s most dependable and trusted plumbing companies and is well versed in stormwater management and maintenance.

They can help you design a new stormwater system from scratch, advise you about the size and selection of sump pumps, pits and other devices, ensuring all installations are compliant and meet state and local government codes.

JSP will also maintain existing systems, use robotic crawlers with CCTV to check for tree root intrustions, diagnosing issues and advising about repair or replacement options.

Remember, regular maintenance is strongly advised and is the smartest and most cost-effective way to extract the most from your stormwater management system.

That’s because it significantly reduces the likelihood of expensive, emergency callouts and more serious damage.

But in the event of a plumbing emergency, JSP is always on hand around the clock.

Call James Smith Plumbing today on 0411 206 046 at the first sign of a problem and for all your stormwater management needs.

You can rely on JSP for the highest standards of workmanship and a minimum of fuss.