Date Published: September 14, 2021, Last Updated on June 16, 2025 by Brian Doherty
What are the causes of blocked stormwater drains in your Melbourne home or workplace? This is easily, a question that can leave you scratching your head and scrambling to call a licensed plumber for help.
These issues can crop up quite suddenly – sometimes due to long-developing hidden causes, while others are more obvious.
You can still remain on top of potential issues with your building’s stormwater drainage, by reading about these 5 most common signs of blocked stormwater drains.
What causes stormwater drain blockage?
There are a few usual suspects that can clog stormwater drains.
Organic matter
The most common enemy of the stormwater pipes…
Downpipes and gutters are built to carry rainwater during a heavy downpour. The gushing water, in turn, carries with it any environmental matter on its way, including leaves, dirt, tree bark fragments, and so on.
These start to decompose, and the prolonged build-up of the resulting residue in the pipelines can cause a blockage, if not cleared away regularly.
Growing tree roots can also intrude into the stormwater pipes, resulting in a blockage that is difficult to detect easily from the outside. If you suspect this may be the case, we strongly recommend you contact Doherty Plumbing Solutions as soon as possible to assess the situation before it escalates into a bigger problem.
Solid waste
Flowing rainwater can easily carry solid waste materials, such as plastic bottles and bags, sand, gravel, etc… and often deposits it where you least expect, your stormwater drains. When such non-organic rubbish and debris accumulate over a long duration inside the stormwater connections, they are a primary cause of blockages. These types of blockages often require the assistance of a professional plumber like Doherty Plumbing Solutions.
Stormwater pipeline construction
If your stormwater network has not been laid down correctly by a professional plumber, or the stormwater pipeline is damaged, this could lead to blockage.
This consequently prevents the rainwater from being drained properly, thus causing overflowing / flooding in your property.
Where can I get plumbing help for blocked stormwater pipes in Melbourne’s east?
If you are concerned about the possibility of a blocked stormwater drainage system at your property, you need professional help from Doherty Plumbing Solutions.
Our team of experienced plumbers work across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and can help promptly detect the root cause and resolve the issue at your home or business, with minimal disruption to you.
We have access to drain cameras and drain machines that can accurately diagnose plumbing problems related to stormwater blockage if required, and help with the cleaning process.
