Who Fixes the Sewer Pipe in Brisbane?
You're responsible for the private pipes on your property up to the sewer connection point. Urban Utilities is responsible for its sewer property connection and mains. The connection point is not necessarily your property boundary, so footage is the best way to tell.
The connection point
The connection point is where your private drain joins Urban Utilities' sewer property connection. The property owner is responsible for private pipes up to it, and Urban Utilities for its connection and mains beyond it. It is not necessarily the property boundary (Urban Utilities).
A camera inspection with locating shows where a fault sits along the line, which helps answer whose side it's on.
When to call 13 23 64
Call Urban Utilities on 13 23 64 (24/7) for:
- A confirmed blockage in its pipes
- Sewage flooding in public areas
- Several properties affected
- An overflowing maintenance hole
- An overflow relief gully holding water or overflowing
Source: Urban Utilities. Urban Utilities also says not to try clearing a suspected sewer blockage or sewage overflow yourself.
If the fault is on their side
If a plumber finds the fault is on Urban Utilities' side, homeowners can submit reasonable costs for consideration. It's not automatic (Urban Utilities). Our footage and itemised invoice make it clear what was found and what was done.
Stormwater is different
Urban Utilities does not own stormwater. Council is responsible for the stormwater network beyond the property boundary (Urban Utilities). Downpipes must not run into the sewer. See stormwater drains.
Fast quote
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
Fill out the quick form
A name, a number and what the drain is doing. Photos help if you have them.
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
We ask a few questions and book a time that suits you.
We come out, clear what we can and run a camera through the pipe
If it is blocked, we get it flowing first. Then the camera goes in to find the cause.
We show you the footage and explain what is wrong
You watch it with us. We point out the crack, the roots or the sag, and roughly where it sits in the yard.
Itemised fixed quote, inspection and repair costs shown separately
Every line on its own, so you can see what the inspection cost and what the fix would cost.
Say yes, flexible payment options if cash flow's tight
No pressure to decide on the spot. If you go ahead, we can talk through ways to spread the cost.
Fixed and checked on camera again, so you can see it's done
Once the work is finished, the camera goes back in and you see the result for yourself.
Questions people ask us
Who fixes the sewer, me or Urban Utilities?
The property owner is responsible for private pipes up to the sewer connection point. Urban Utilities is responsible for its sewer property connection and mains. The connection point is not necessarily the property boundary (Urban Utilities). If a plumber finds the fault is on Urban Utilities' side, homeowners can submit reasonable costs for consideration, but that is not automatic.
Is the blocked stormwater on the nature strip council's job or mine?
Urban Utilities does not own stormwater. Council is responsible for the stormwater network beyond the property boundary (Urban Utilities). Pipes on your side are generally yours. If we film the line and the fault is past your boundary, we'll show you the footage so you have something clear to take to council.
Can I see the camera footage?
Yes. That's the whole point of how we work. You watch the footage with us on the day, we point out what we're seeing, and we explain where the problem is before we talk about any repair.
Should I pay for a camera inspection first?
Usually, yes. Older homes can have original drains, replaced drains or a mix of materials, so the actual pipe has to be checked before anyone recommends a fix. Without footage, a quote for relining or digging is a guess. We show the inspection as its own line, separate from any repair.
Who pays for shared drains in a unit block?
In Queensland body corporate schemes, pipes are generally common property unless they serve only one lot, sit inside that lot's boundaries, and are not inside a boundary structure. All three must be true (Queensland Government). If any one isn't, the pipe is generally the body corporate's to fix.