Brisbane's Domestic Drainage Under Stress

If you experienced the 2022 Brisbane flooding, rain bomb forecasts for Brisbane might be a cause of anxiety. With more extreme weather likely for Brisbane, you need to be prepared. Taking preventative action during the dry months could make the difference between ‘minimal moisture damage’ and ‘serious water damage.’
What Is a Water Bomb?
Water bombs, also referred to as cloudbursts or extreme rainfall events, occur when air heavily laden with moisture hits the ground, causing ground winds of tornado strength. Basically, it's like a conveyor belt delivering a river of wet air that causes high winds and flooding. So, the term ‘water bomb’ is apt because they hit hard and fast, much like a bomb of water exploding!
How to Minimise Damage During a Rain Bomb Event
Unfortunately, the sudden nature of these events means there is very little that you can do to minimise damage when they hit. However, similar to fire prevention, there is an ‘assess, fix, and maintain’ routine that has the potential to save you thousands in damages if employed early enough. Brisbane plumbers recommend starting as soon as possible, ideally before winter, to get your domestic drainage systems flood-ready, so all you have to worry about is your family's safety.
Asses, Fix, and Maintain Your Plumbing from Top to Bottom
- Check and clean out gutters. A full or damaged gutter can cause water to flow into ceiling cavities, walls, and windows or cause dampness to foundations.
- Check flow through downpipes and water tanks. Ask your Brisbane Plumber to calculate the optimum downpipe amount to ensure complete water evacuation during rain bombs.
- Check levels, operation, and correct flow of water to pits. A small amount of damage or leak will eventually cause issues. However, a water bomb could cause a minor issue to implode.
- Ensure your underground stormwater pipes are greater than or upgraded to above 90mm PVC. While these are sufficient for normal rainfall, they are unlikely to handle rain bomb levels.
- Are your drains working at full capacity, or do you suspect a leak or blockage? When your outdoor drains don't work correctly, your backyard could become a swimming pool, placing you at risk of water seepage at your doors or windows.
- Book a domestic drainage system health check regularly.
Brisbane plumbers are bracing for the next event and, through professional experience after 2022, encourage homeowners to use the assess, fix, and maintain method to stay high and dry in the future.