Why Eden Homeowners Are Choosing
Stormwater Drain Relining

Stormwater and sewerage drains both carry water away from your property, but they deal with very different conditions.

A sewer pipe carries a relatively controlled flow from toilets, showers, sinks and other fixtures. A stormwater drain can sit mostly empty for weeks and then suddenly be expected to handle a large amount of rainwater in a short period.

It also collects more debris. Leaves, bark, dirt, sand and small stones can enter through gutters and downpipes, pits and outdoor drains. On properties near bushland or established gardens, tree roots can make their way into small cracks or open pipe joints.

During heavy rain, any existing problem becomes more obvious. A partially blocked or damaged stormwater pipe may not have enough capacity to move the water away. You can end up with overflowing pits, water pooling beside the house, erosion through the yard or water backing up towards garages and low-lying areas.

Coastal ground movement can create another problem. As the soil becomes wet and dries out again, sections of pipe can move. Older clay and concrete pipes may crack or separate at the joints, giving roots and surrounding soil a way in.

Stormwater drain relining creates a new pipe inside the existing damaged pipe.

We first run a CCTV drain inspection to locate cracks, displaced joints, root entry and other damage. The pipe is then cleaned so the liner can be installed properly.

A resin-coated liner is inserted into the existing drain and cured in place. Once hardened, it forms a strong, sealed inner pipe without the need to remove the original one.

Eden Plumbing is Brawoliner-certified, and the system has a 50-year design life. We also complete a camera inspection after the work, so we can confirm that the liner has cured correctly and the repaired section is clear.

Relining is a repair method, not a magic trick. The existing drain needs to be in a suitable condition.

Full or partial replacement may be required when:

• • The pipe has completely collapsed.
  • A section has been crushed or is missing.
  • The joints are severely displaced.
  • The pipe has a major backfall and water cannot flow in the correct direction.
  • The drain is too small for the amount of stormwater it needs to carry.
  • The existing layout is poorly designed.
  • There is no suitable access for cleaning and installing the liner.
  • The surrounding ground has moved enough to alter the pipe’s position.

A liner follows the general path and fall of the existing pipe. It can seal cracks, joints and root entry points, but it cannot correct every structural or design problem.

Sometimes the most sensible answer is a combination of both methods. We may excavate and replace one badly collapsed section, then reline the remaining pipe to avoid digging up the rest of the property.

A full replacement may be excessive when the pipe still holds its shape and the damage is limited to cracks, leaking joints or root intrusion.

These are the types of problems that are often suitable for relining:

• • Cracks along the pipe wall
  • Small gaps at pipe joints
  • Tree roots entering through joints
  • Leaks into the surrounding soil
  • Ageing clay or concrete pipework
  • Damage underneath a driveway or landscaped area
  • Repeated blockages caused by the same damaged section

The condition cannot be judged properly from the surface. Two properties with similar symptoms may have very different problems underground. That is why the camera inspection comes first.

We do not recommend relining based on guesswork.

The process starts with a CCTV inspection so we can see:

• • Where the damage is
  • What type of pipe you have
  • Whether the pipe is cracked, collapsed or displaced
  • Where roots or soil are entering
  • Whether the pipe has enough fall
  • Whether relining will provide a reliable repair

We send the camera down again after the work is finished to check the completed liner and make sure the drain is clear.

Eden Plumbing has worked across the Sapphire Coast for more than 25 years. We are fully licensed and insured, Brawoliner-certified and based locally in Eden. We service Eden, Pambula, Merimbula, Bega, Tathra and surrounding towns and rural properties.

A typical job may start with a homeowner noticing that a stormwater pit overflows during moderate rain. Water begins pooling beside the driveway, even though the drain has recently been cleared.

A CCTV inspection finds roots entering through several joints in an older stormwater pipe running beneath the driveway. The pipe has cracks but has not collapsed, and the fall is still suitable.

Digging it up would mean cutting through the driveway and replacing the concrete afterwards. In that situation, relining the damaged run may seal the joints and cracks without disturbing the surface above it.

On the other hand, if the camera finds that part of the pipe has dropped and now holds water permanently, that section may need to be excavated and corrected before the remaining pipe can be relined.

The camera footage tells us which approach makes sense.

If the drain is cracked, leaking or affected by roots but still structurally intact, relining will often be the less disruptive option.

If it has collapsed, moved badly or was installed with the wrong fall, replacement may be necessary.

The only reliable way to make that call is to inspect the pipe properly. A CCTV drain inspection shows us what is happening underground, so you are not paying to excavate a large area unless it is genuinely needed.

If your stormwater drain is overflowing, repeatedly blocking or leaving water around your home, Eden Plumbing can inspect it and explain the options clearly. We will show you the camera footage, tell you whether relining is suitable and recommend excavation when it is genuinely the better fix.