The A–Z of Drains, Pipes & Plumbing

Plain-English definitions of drainage, sewer and stormwater terminology. Written for homeowners, builders, property managers and plumbing professionals.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Terms starting with “S”

S-Trap A trap shaped like an S whose outlet drops vertically through the floor — common in older Australian bathrooms, and more prone to siphoning Scale Build-Up Hard mineral deposits (calcium and magnesium salts, or iron-based encrustation) that accumulate on pipe walls over decades, narrowing the bo Self-Cleansing Flow The design principle that wastewater must move fast enough to carry solids with it — achieved through minimum gradients — so drains clean th Septic System An on-site wastewater system — tank plus land-application area — used where no sewer connection exists, digesting solids and dispersing trea Sewer Main The large public sewer pipe, owned and maintained by the water authority, that collects wastewater from many private property drains. Silt Trap A pit or chamber with a sump below its outlet that catches sand, soil and debris before they wash into downstream pipes or soakage systems. Smoke Testing Blowing non-toxic smoke through a drainage system to reveal leaks, illegal connections and lost trap seals — wherever smoke escapes, air and Soakwell An underground chamber or gravel-filled structure that stores stormwater and lets it soak slowly into the surrounding soil, used where stree Sonde A small transmitter fitted to a drain camera or plumbing tool that broadcasts a signal through the ground, letting an operator on the surfac Stack The vertical drainage pipe in a multi-storey building that carries wastewater from upper floors down to the below-ground drain, while also v Stormwater Drain The separate piped system that carries rainwater from roofs, paving and land to street drainage, creeks or soakage — never into the sewer. Stormwater Pit A box-like access chamber with a grated or solid lid, built into stormwater lines to collect surface water, join pipes and provide maintenan Subsoil Drainage The collective term for systems managing water within the soil — ag drains, gravel trenches and geofabric — protecting structures from groun Surcharge When a drain or sewer runs completely full and under pressure — flow beyond its gravity capacity — forcing water up and out of gullies, manh

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Pipes & Materials

The pipe types and materials used in Australian drains, past and present.

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Drainage Structures

Traps, gullies, pits, openings and the other physical parts of a drainage system.

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Blockages & Causes

What goes wrong inside drains — and the terminology used to describe it.

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Inspection & Technology

CCTV cameras, locators and the technology used to see inside pipes.

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Repair Methods

Relining, pipe bursting, excavation and the other ways drains get fixed.

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Cleaning & Clearing

Jetters, eels, cutters and the methods used to clear and clean drains.

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Plumbing Fixtures

Traps, wastes and fixtures that connect your home to the drainage system.

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Sewer Systems

How sewer mains, house drains and connection points fit together.

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Stormwater

Downpipes, pits and the separate system that carries rainwater away.

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Trade Terminology

The words drainers and plumbers use on site — falls, inverts, laterals and more.

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Regulations & Standards

The rules, standards and approvals that govern drainage work in Australia.

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Water Flow & Hydraulics

Backflow, surcharge, water hammer and how water actually behaves in pipes.

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Tree Roots & Vegetation

How trees interact with drains — the number one cause of blockages.

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Maintenance & Prevention

Keeping drains healthy so small issues never become emergencies.

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