Summary
During the winter, Perth experiences periods of heavy rainfall. In urban areas where there is/are many hard surfaces such as footpaths, paving, roads, driveways, etc, storm-water must be channelled away so that flooding does not occur. Storm-water drainage is separate to the sewer system, and it is necessary for homeowners and Strata Companies to confine the storm-water runoff from their hard surfaces by installing measures such as sufficient soakwells, and possibly some rainwater capture tanks.
In some Shires, there are requirements for a percentage of the landscaping to be grass / garden beds etc. to assist with draining surface water.
Soakwell maintenance
A correctly installed soakwell shouldn't require frequent maintenance. A professional clean out every 10 years should suffice. However, if a soakwell becomes clogged between cleans, you will notice that the water is not draining away. If this happens, the Strata Company should schedule maintenance during the dry months to have the soakwell professionally cleaned out. This will involve removing the surrounding paving, taking the lid off the soakwell and cleaning out the accumulation of debris / sand. If the blockage is due to a build up of sand leaching into the soakwell void, it is recommended that some retrospective work be done to fix this issue. Contact us to find out more.
If the soakwell becomes blocked during the winter and water is causing flooding which is impacting access/egress to units, then immediate action is required. We can arrange for the soakwell to be pressure cleaned and vacuumed. A truck will attend site and clear the soakwell out using a 6 inch hose. The truck then filters the debris from the water, before returning the water to the soakwell to drain away. The debris is then removed and owners are charged per tonne of waste taken away, plus an hourly charge.
Downpipes
Downpipes are essential for channelling water from the roof gutters into the ground (ideally into a soakwell). To function correctly, they must be cleaned out and free of leaf litter and there must be enough downpipes to cope in a deluge. If there are not enough downpipes, gutters can fill up and water may flow back into the eaves which can cause these to become water stained or water logged (see note on guttering below). This can lead to the eaves breaking and falling in large sections. If you notice staining on the eaves, its a sign of water ingress so it may be necessary to fit additional downpipes. We can arrange for a specialist to advise on your requirements, so please get in touch.
Slotted Gutters
If guttering is due for replacement, consider having it replaced with newer style slotted guttering. The slots are half way up the front of the gutter and are designed to release water so that the level will not reach a point were it flows back into the eaves. The water is released out of the front of the gutter. These gutters are really effective when we experience particularly heavy downpours in a short space of time.
| Slotted Guttering | Guttering without overflow slots |
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A video showing how slotted gutters expel the water when water levels reach above a certain point.
Further reading
Link from Houspect
https://www.houspect.com.au/wa/wa-strata-carparks-caring-for-soakwells/