Where Does My Drain Start and Finish?
Where Do My Drains Go? Understanding the Journey of Wastewater in Your Home
Let’s be honest—most of us don’t give much thought to what happens after we flush the loo or pull the plug in the sink. It disappears, and that’s good enough, right? Fair enough—but knowing where your drains start and finish can actually help you avoid plumbing dramas down the line.
In every Aussie home or commercial building, there are two separate drain systems:
- One for sewer (your household waste water), and
- One for stormwater (rainwater off your roof and garden).
It might sound a bit technical, but don’t stress—we’re here to break it down in simple terms.
The Sewer Drain System – Where the Dirty Stuff Goes
Your sewer drain takes care of all the waste that comes from inside the house. We’re talking about:
- Toilet water and waste
- Shower and bath water
- Water from washing machines
- Kitchen sink runoff
All that waste is called sewage. It gets flushed or drained from your fixtures and flows through sewer pipes—also known as sewerage drains.
Here’s how it works:
- Everything you flush or drain inside the house flows into the sewer pipes.
- These pipes are designed with a bit of slope so the waste flows downhill—yep, the old saying “s#!% flows downhill” is true!
- Once the waste reaches the boundary of your property, it enters the local council’s sewer mains.
- From there, it’s transported to a sewage treatment plant—a big facility where the yucky stuff is filtered, treated, and made safe.
Depending on where you live, the treated water might end up:
- In a river or the ocean (especially if you’re near the coast)
- Recycled for industrial or agricultural use
- Converted into energy
So next time you flush, just think—it’s the start of a pretty impressive journey.
The Stormwater Drain System – Managing Mother Nature’s Downpour
Now onto the stormwater system. This one deals with all the rainwater that falls on your roof, driveway, and garden.
It starts with:
- Downpipes from your gutters
- Ground drains and sumps around your property
That water flows into stormwater pipes, which carry it away from your home and into:
- Street kerbs
- Stormwater mains
- Local rivers, creeks, lakes or the ocean
The stormwater system helps prevent flooding by safely channelling water away from built-up areas. But here’s the catch: it doesn’t get treated like sewer water does. That means anything that ends up in your storm drains—rubbish, cigarette butts, oil, fertilisers—can go straight into our natural waterways.
So what can you do?
- Keep an eye on what goes down your outside drains.
- Don’t hose rubbish or chemicals into the gutters.
- Pick up litter—especially near street drains.
Looking after your stormwater system is a small thing that can make a big difference for our oceans and wildlife.
Need a Drain Check? Call The Doctor
If you’re unsure where your pipes run or suspect something’s not quite right with your drains, it’s best to get a licensed plumber to take a look. At The Plumbing and Electrical Doctor, we’re here to help 24/7.
📞 Call us on 131091 or
🌐 Visit our website to book a local expert in Canberra, Newcastle, the Central Coast, or the Hunter Valley.
We’ll check your drains, sort out any issues, and give you peace of mind—because knowing where your water flows is more important than you might think!
THE DOCTOR GETS IT DONE