Stormwater pit too low. How to raise

[jbob4]

A couple of stormwater pits in the backyard was built too low. I want to raise them. Do I need council approval? Can we do it ourselves and how?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jbob4. It's great to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about stormwater pits.

Would you be able to show our helpful members a picture of these pits or provide some additional information about them? That would allow us to give some relevant advice on your situation.

When you say that they were built too low, what exactly is the issue with them? An image would likely help illustrate this. Be aware that if you're going to raise or lower a pit, you need to maintain the fall on the connecting pipes. Depending on the setup, it might be as simple as digging the pit out of the ground whilst disconnecting the pipes, raising the soil level, re-installing the pit, and re-connecting the pipes.

You won't need Council permission unless these pits are owned by the council and on an easement on your property. However, before commencing work, you'll need to check whether you require the services of a qualified drainage expert in your area. In many locations around Australia, you're not allowed to D.I.Y. your own drainage.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[jbob4]

Thank you, I’ve added a picture. The put needs to be raised because the ground will need to be raised as well. 

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Many thanks for the image @jbob4. It looks like a pit riser that you place over the existing pit to change the height would work a treat. This would be a great solution because the existing pit can stay where it is.

If you see one of our helpful Special Orders team members at your local store and give them the dimension of your pit, they'll be able to contact Everhard and order a suitable riser for you.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

[Zanish]

Hi @MitchellMc thanks for your answer. I have a similar problem with @jbob4 but I think I need to raise it by 600mm. Would I be able to get a riser that high? Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @Zanish,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.

I'll have to do a bit of investigation for you to find out if the pit risers can be used in conjunction with each other. If they can, then getting to 600mm should not be an issue. Let me try to find out more and as soon as I have more information I'll let you know. Would it be possible for you to please tell me the size of your pit? 

Eric

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Zanish,

If your current pit is 600mm below where it should be, then that would be a situation where you'd use pipework to reach the correct height and then install a pit there. The pit risers mentioned here will likely fit inside each other, giving you the required height, but that certainly wouldn't be the most economical way to go about the fix.

I'd recommend removing the current pit, installing pipework to the correct height, and then re-installing the pit.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

[Zanish]

Hi @MitchellM the stormwater drain is a council stormwater drain in my backyard so I cannot remove the pit. See the photo attached.

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Zanish,

You'll need to discuss the issue with your council/local water authority to find out what viable solutions are available. You can't modify a water authority-owned stormwater drain without the required approval. I'm not sure why you need to raise the pit 600mm, but please be advised that there is likely an easement over that part of your property which might come with stipulations such as that you're only able to complete non-permanent works in that area.

Mitchell

[Old-gal24]

@Zanish @MitchellMc  @EricL 

Funny I stumbled along the post.

I have just purchased a property Rural NSW, and discovered one corner of my yard has some kind of pit.  I also discovered there are not stormwater outlets onto my street from the house.   After chasing council almost 2 weeks later I had a fellow from Council return my call.  

Apparently as it's on my land it's my responsibility and thus they didn't care what I did.  As long as I didn't actually make any major modifications. 

My storm water from my roof runs into the large pit in the corner of my yard.  I've dug and dug through lays of pebbles and leaf foliage and all I have been able to find is thick fleecy type of fabric (GEOTEXTILE) I think it's called.  And I certainly don't want to go pulling it all up as the area is almost 3mt sq.  And drops down almost a metre in that corner of my yard.

So I am guessing your council would be the same with regards to you seeking approval to raise your pits.

All the best 

this Old gal