DrainWise resources and videos aim to inform you and challenge our community about wastewater discharges.

Simple adjustments to our habits at home can make a huge difference for the health of our community and our waterways.

DrainWise checklist

A simple checklist to check your property's pipes and drains.

During heavy rain, Gisborne city's wastewater (sewage) network can get overwhelmed with stormwater (rain) and the network can't cope with the volume of extra water going through it.
When this happens, wastewater overflows onto people's properties and out of manholes on roads. To prevent this from happening, we have to open emergency valves and release the pressure by discharging wastewater into the city's rivers.

Help us to prevent stormwater from entering the wastewater system on your property. Use the checklist to check the gully trap and pipes on your property.

Healthy water, healthy community

When water isn't draining right - it's not healthy for your family, your home or our rivers and beaches.
Here's information on what you can do. If you have flooding issues on your property.
Fill in our online property flooding form **INSERT LINK**

Sinks are not rubbish bins

Facts on fatbergs and how they're blocking our sewage system and how simple adjustments to our behaviour at home can make a world of difference for our waterways!

Keep stormwater and wastewater separate

Gisborne has separate networks for stormwater (rain) and wastewater (sewage). Watch the video featuring our local surf life saving champs and the waka ama national midget champions teaching us about Gisborne’s different water networks.

Get to know your gully trap

Mike Hall, a local Gizzy plumber “getting to know your gully trap…you’ll prevent a whole lot of pollution on our properties and our rivers”.

Only Flush the 3 Ps - pee, poo and (toilet) paper

Nick reminds us about what we should and should not flush down the toilet. Blocked wastewater pipes can cause sewage back-ups in your home or overflow into our city's rivers.