The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) is warning plumbers to ensure their drainage work is compliant.
Over two weeks, BPC inspectors conducted 440 inspections of below-ground sanitary drainage work. Of these, 146 drains either failed standards or were not ready for inspection.
Inspectors issued:
- 35 fines totalling more than $20,000
- 51 directions to fix non-compliant work
- referrals for 14 potential disciplinary cases
Four unregistered workers were also detected and face prosecution.
The most common issues included incorrect pipe gradients, poor alignment, and a lack of maintenance openings and fittings. State Building Surveyor Steven Baxas said underground drainage needed to be done correctly from the outset.
"Getting underground drainage right is critical to preventing long-term problems for homeowners. That's why our inspectors will continue to be out in force."
"Drainage inspections are mandatory for a reason and plumbers must comply."
Why it matters for consumers
Faulty drainage can cause flooding, structural damage and costly repairs once a home is occupied. All below-ground drainage work must be inspected and approved by the BPC before being backfilled.
If inspectors do not attend within 30 minutes of the booked inspection time, plumbers are permitted to backfill. A fine of $611 may apply if a drain is not ready for inspection when booked.
What consumers can do
Homeowners can protect themselves by:
- always using a licensed plumber for drainage work
- checking plumber registration and disciplinary history on the Find a Practitioner tool.
The BPC conducts drainage inspections between 7am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
