Blocked Drain Investigated in Hawthorn
Completed Job Summary
A drainage investigation was completed in Hawthorn after the customer reported toilet bubbling while the shower was running. CCTV inspection confirmed a blocked drain, and council sewer mapping was reviewed to assess a likely shared sewer arrangement.
28 May 2026
Byron Slabbert
Founder and Managing Director
81719
This job record is derived from first-party technician notes and the Simpro job management.
Customer report
The customer reported that water in the toilet bubbled when the shower was running and continued bubbling for several minutes after the shower was turned off. The reported issue indicated a drainage concern associated with fixture use at the Hawthorn property. An inspection was arranged to investigate the cause of the toilet bubbling and assess the drainage line.
Diagnosis & Technical Assessment
The drainage assessment included CCTV inspection of the drain line. During inspection, the camera could only be advanced approximately 7 metres before it could not be pushed any further. The drain was confirmed blocked, and the technician noted the line appeared fully blocked.
Council sewer mapping was reviewed as part of the assessment. The sewer map suggested that three adjoining properties may share a common sewer line along the lower side of the properties. Because of the likely shared drainage arrangement, the exact location and responsibility for the blockage could not be confirmed from the CCTV inspection alone.
Hydro jetting was identified as the next investigation step because the obstruction location and cause could not be determined without further clearing work. The inspection confirmed the presence of a blocked drainage system and established that additional investigation was required before the cause of the blockage could be identified.
All work was completed in accordance with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) regulatory framework.
Solutions delivered
The completed service focused on investigating and confirming the drainage fault. The technician attended the site, assessed the reported toilet bubbling issue, and carried out a CCTV inspection of the drain line.
The camera inspection confirmed the blockage and identified that further access through the line was restricted at approximately 7 metres. Council sewer mapping was then reviewed to understand the likely drainage layout and shared sewer arrangement between adjoining properties.
A quotation for hydro jetting was provided because jetting was required to further investigate the cause and location of the blockage. The customer elected to discuss cost sharing with neighbouring property owners before proceeding with additional works. The investigation established the condition of the drain and the likely need for shared decision-making before the next stage of clearing work.
Tools, Parts & Systems Used
- CCTV drain camera
- Drainage system
- Shared sewer infrastructure
- Council sewer mapping
Outcome & Results
The drain blockage was confirmed via CCTV inspection. The camera inspection was limited by the obstruction, and council sewer mapping indicated a likely shared sewer arrangement involving adjoining properties.
Hydro jetting was recommended as the next step to investigate and clear the obstruction. The customer deferred further works pending discussion with neighbouring property owners.
All work was carried out in accordance with relevant Australian Standards and safety requirements.
Repair vs Replacement
Blocked drain investigations often begin with a CCTV inspection to confirm whether a line is obstructed and to assess how far access can be gained. Where the camera cannot pass the blockage, hydro jetting may be required before the cause and exact location can be identified.
For this Hawthorn job, CCTV confirmed the blockage but did not allow full inspection beyond the obstruction. Because the sewer layout appeared to be shared between adjoining properties, the next step involved hydro jetting and discussions with neighbours before further works proceeded.