By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
Blocked stormwater line at a Tweed Heads West property that backs onto a reserve. CCTV and hydrojet work showed the 90mm PVC had crushed under the pressure of mature trees on the reserve side. We quoted a targeted repair of the crushed section rather than a full re-run, because deck access made a new run impractical.
What the customer called us for
Owner called us out for blocked stormwater at their Tweed Heads West property, which backs directly onto a reserve.
What we found when we got there
We ran the hydrojet and the camera down the line. The stormwater was laid in 90mm PVC and it had crushed from the compression of the ground above, driven by the mature trees on the reserve side. The owner could not remove the trees, so the pipe was always going to be under pressure.
Why we did it this way
90mm PVC under heavy tree pressure is almost certain to crush over time. The right fix is normally to re-run the stormwater in 100mm PVC along a different line, but at this property the decks and limited access ruled that out at a sensible cost. Repairing the crushed section is the next-best fix. It restores the flow now and, as long as the ground conditions do not change, buys years of life back from the existing run.
What we did on site
- Ran the hydrojet to clear the blockage.
- Ran the CCTV camera along the full line.
- Identified the crushed section of 90mm PVC and marked the location.
- Reviewed access with the owner for a full re-run versus a section repair.
- Flushed the full line clean while we were on site.
- Quoted the section repair.
The result
Line flowing clean on the day. Owner has a camera report, the crushed section marked, and a quote to repair that specific length of pipe when they are ready.
If you have the same issue
If your home is backing onto a reserve or has mature trees on the boundary, your stormwater is going to come under pressure over time. Book a CCTV survey every few years so you catch the crush before it becomes a full collapse. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
Why does 90mm PVC crush and 100mm not as much?
Larger diameter PVC has more wall thickness for the same pressure class and sits on a wider bed, so the load is spread. 90mm is at the smaller end of what stormwater is laid in and it goes first under tree root pressure.
Can I just leave it and keep jetting?
You can, but each time the pipe crushes a little more the blockage comes back sooner. Once the pipe is fully collapsed the jet has nothing to push through, and the water finds its own way out, usually under a slab or path. A section repair is cheaper than a slab repair.
Why not take the trees out instead?
They are on the reserve, not on the owner’s property, so the owner cannot touch them. That is a common issue for houses backing onto council land or nature reserves, and it is why those stormwater lines need to be built tougher from day one.
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