Quick answer
Stormwater drains block with leaves, jacaranda flowers in season, silt, and stray tennis balls. It matters more in Johannesburg than in most places because Highveld summer storms deliver enormous volumes in minutes — a blocked stormwater drain can flood a garden, a garage or a basement faster than you can clear it. The work to prevent that is cheap and seasonal.
Common causes
- Leaf litter, worst in autumn and after wind
- Jacaranda flowers in October and November, which mat together and block gratings completely
- Silt build-up washed in over successive storms
- Foreign objects — balls, toys and general garden debris
- Collapsed or displaced section of stormwater pipe
- Grating damaged or missing so debris enters freely
What you can do now
- 1Clear surface debris and gratings before storm season starts
- 2Sweep up jacaranda flowers rather than hosing them toward the drain
- 3Check that gratings are intact and seated after each big storm
- 4Watch where water ponds during rain — that is where the blockage is
- 5Keep gutters and downpipes clear too, since they feed the same system
When to call a professional
Book jet cleaning before the October storms rather than after the first flood. Clearing stormwater ahead of the rains is a small, scheduled cost; flooded garages, saturated foundations and washed-out landscaping are not. If a drain ponds even in light rain, ask for a camera survey — that usually indicates silt build-up along the run or a collapsed section rather than a blocked grating.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
Stormwater clear R950–R1,800
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
Related services
Need a Plumber or Electrician Today?
Owner-managed by Garth Blair. We pick up the phone and book you in personally.