Can you tell me the depth or invert level of the sewer and storm water in the street?
Our electronic plans give invert levels and indicative surface levels. Levels on these plans are for planning purposes only and should not be used for bench marks or accurate levelling. There is a $10 charge and a 24 hour turnaround time for these plans. No information is given out over the phone.
Sometimes there are no recordings of levels for storm water. The accuracy of the plans are not guaranteed and should be verified by inspection. Plans are available from the Council Civic offices.
What is a storm water tank?
Storm water tanks can be used on private properties to regulate the discharge from connected impervious areas such as roofs, hardstand areas and driveways. The tank provides temporary storage which converts high peak inflows lasting up to one hour to steady low outflows lasting up to one day.
Under what circumstances can I have a storm water tank?
The Council may recommend or require a storm water tank under the following circumstances:
- The public storm water system downstream has no capacity for a new connection and it is uneconomic to upgrade the public system.
- Direct discharge to a hill waterway or hillslope is likely to cause accelerated erosion. Storm water tanks are unlikely to be approved by the Council if an economic alternative system is available.
The Council may approve a request from a private property owner to install a storm water tank for water conservation or other reasons.
Storm water tank installation guidelines [PDF 360KB]
Can we just run our storm water into a soak pit?
In certain parts of Christchurch discharge to the ground via approved soak pit design is permitted. In some areas it is even compulsory (e.g. Brooklands, parts of Waterloo Road, Halswell Junction Road’s industrial zone). Strict conditions apply to soak pit drainage.
The Council's Building Control Unit can advise you where ground conditions permit use to be made of soak pits for roof storm water.
