Stormwater Drains Christchurch

Christchurch is dry by New Zealand standards, with about 618 mm of rain a year at the airport. That is exactly why stormwater problems catch people out: a drain can block slowly through a dry summer and only show itself when a big southerly or a wet winter week arrives.

We clear blocked stormwater pipes, clean sumps and cesspits, repair broken lines and sort out the low spots where water gathers against the house.

Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Stormwater Drains Jobs We Handle Across Christchurch

• Stormwater drain clearing
• Stormwater and drainage repairs
• Sump and cesspit cleaning
• Soakhole repairs
• Channel drains
• Flooding and ponding fixes

Signs your stormwater system is struggling

Stormwater faults usually build up quietly. Call us if you see any of these: New stormwater lines, soak pits and connections for extensions are laid by our drainlaying team.

• Downpipes overflowing at the base or spouting spilling over in heavy rain
• Water ponding on paths, driveways or the lawn long after rain stops
• Water pooling under a suspended floor or against the foundation
• A sump or yard drain full of silt, leaves or gravel
• Gurgling or water backing up at the gully trap during rain
• A soggy patch that stays wet even in dry weather

Christchurch ground, groundwater and flooding

Stormwater in Christchurch is shaped by flat land, high groundwater in parts of the east, and the earthquakes. Ground that moved in 2010 and 2011 can leave stormwater pipes with dips, open joints or reversed falls, and a pipe that no longer falls the right way will hold silt until it blocks.

The city also has real flood risk near its rivers. July 2017 was Canterbury's wettest July on record, and the Avon River and the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River overflowed. More than 50,000 residential properties sit in Flood Management Areas, where new builds and additions may need a minimum floor level. Good private stormwater will not stop a river flood, but it does stop your own roof water adding to the problem around the house.

How It Works

Common stormwater jobs we fix

Most stormwater problems come down to a few causes. Leaves, moss and roof grit wash off the roof and settle in the first bend or sump. Tree roots find joints in older earthenware pipe, especially in suburbs with big mature trees such as Riccarton and Beckenham. On sloping Port Hills sections, silt and gravel can wash down driveways into channel drains. And where a house has had foundation or cladding work, it is worth checking every downpipe still runs into the stormwater line and not onto the ground.

We clear blockages with a drain machine or hydro jetting, then run a CCTV drain inspection if the problem keeps coming back, so we fix the cause and not just the symptom.

Cross connections: stormwater in the wastewater

Rainwater should go to the stormwater system and sewage to the wastewater system. When a downpipe is connected to the sewer, or a gully trap sits low enough for rain to flood into it, the wastewater network fills with rainwater in heavy weather. Master Plumbers warns that cross connections like this contribute to sewer overflows. A low or damaged gully trap is a common culprit, and gully trap repairs are often a quick fix.

This matters in Christchurch, where some areas run on pressure or vacuum sewers that are designed for wastewater only. We check where each downpipe goes and correct any that are connected to the wrong system.

Stormwater drain cost and who looks after what

The price depends on the length of pipe, how many access points there are, whether the line needs jetting or a camera, and whether a broken section needs digging up and replacing. Repairs on TC2 or TC3 land may need flexible pipe and careful bedding so the line copes with any future ground movement.

Pipes on your section that serve only your property are generally yours to maintain. Your Record of Title shows easements. If we find a fault that looks like it is in a public pipe, we tell you so you can report it to Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council or Waimakariri District Council.

Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Stormwater Drains

Stormwater Drains FAQs

Stormwater Drains Across Christchurch

Our stormwater drains team works in every Christchurch suburb. Find your local plumbers:

Related Services

See all drainage services or every service we offer.