One in three below ground drainage systems are non-compliant with building and plumbing requirements, inspections in Victoria have found.

The Victorian Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) recently conducted inspections on 440 below ground sanitary drainage systems from across the state.

The inspections took place over two weeks.

Results were concerning.

Of the 440 drains that were inspected, 146 either failed to meet standards or were not ready for inspection as required. (As noted below, plumbers need to book a drainage inspection with the BPC prior to backfilling.)

This represents a failure rate of around one in three drains that were inspected.

Common forms of non-compliance included a failure to meet minimum gradients required for efficient water flow, incorrect alignment and a lack of openings and fittings which are necessary for maintenance and future inspections.

Across the program, BPC inspectors handed out 35 on-the-spot fines and issued 51 rectification notices for non-compliant work.  All up, fines totaled more than $20,000.

Four unregistered workers were also caught working on site whilst an additional 14 cases have been referred to the BPC’s investigations team for potential disciplinary action.

When correctly installed, underground drainage helps to deliver effective management of stormwater and wastewater in new home construction.

The systems redirect excess water away from the property and thus reduce the risk of flooding, soil erosion and structural problems which may be caused by waterlogging.

By contrast, incorrect installation can lead to structural damage and costly repairs for new home owners.

To ensure that work complies with standards and regulations, the BPC conducts random inspections of below ground sanitary drainage prior to the systems being backfilled.

It is mandatory for plumbers to book a drainage inspection with the BPC. All work must be available for viewing in its entirety prior to backfilling.

If a BPC inspector does not attend the site within 30 minutes from the nominated inspection time, the plumber is permitted to backfill the drain (as noted above, the inspections are random and do not occur at every site.)

On-the-spot fines of $611.00 may be issued when the drain is not ready for inspection at the nominated booking time.

For serious non-compliance, suspension, disqualification and fines may apply. Unregistered workers can be prosecuted.

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