Tree roots in sewer pipes: why it happens and how it is fixed
Roots don't smash pipes; they find a weak joint and grow in. The trees Hunter Water rates as the biggest risk, and how roots are cleared so they stay out.
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Key takeaways
- Roots get into sewer pipes through cracks and tired joints, drawn by moisture and nutrients. Older clay pipes with many joints are the most exposed.
- Hunter Water rates camphor laurel, figs and rubber trees, poplars and willows as an extreme risk to sewer pipes.
- Cutting or jetting clears the roots but leaves the way in open. Patching, relining or replacing the damaged section is what stops them returning.
- Roots in your own pipes are your responsibility. If a camera shows the damage is in Hunter Water's pipes, report it to Hunter Water.
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