Stormwater pit cleaning, silt removal and pipe exposure using vacuum excavation.
The safest method for maintaining Sydney's drainage infrastructure.
Sydney's stormwater infrastructure carries millions of litres of rainwater from roofs, roads, driveways and landscaped areas into local waterways every year. This network of pits, pipes, channels and gross pollutant traps is designed to prevent flooding and protect water quality, but it only works when maintained properly. Over time, silt, sand, leaves, litter and construction debris accumulate inside stormwater pits and pipes, restricting flow capacity and eventually causing localised flooding during heavy rainfall.
Pro Expose Hydro Vacs provides stormwater excavation and drain cleaning services across greater Sydney using vacuum excavation equipment. Our approach combines high-pressure water jetting to break up compacted sediment with industrial vacuum suction to extract the waste directly into our truck's spoil tank. This eliminates the need for manual pit entry, reduces health and safety risks, and produces a cleaner result than traditional bucket-and-shovel cleaning methods.
We service residential properties, strata complexes, commercial buildings, construction sites and council infrastructure. Whether you have a single blocked stormwater pit in your backyard or need scheduled maintenance across a portfolio of commercial properties, our team delivers fast, thorough stormwater cleaning with full waste disposal included.
Our systematic approach ensures thorough cleaning and identifies potential issues before they cause flooding or property damage.
Compared to manual cleaning, grab trucks or mechanical excavation, vacuum excavation delivers superior results with less risk.
Traditional stormwater pit cleaning often involves workers entering confined spaces to manually shovel out silt, or using small excavators that risk damaging pit walls and pipe connections. Both approaches are slow, create mess on the surrounding property, and introduce workplace health and safety concerns around confined space entry and heavy manual handling.
Vacuum excavation changes the equation entirely. Our operator stands at ground level and controls the suction hose and water lance from outside the pit. There is no confined space entry required, no manual shovelling, and no risk of an operator being exposed to contaminated water or unstable pit walls. The high-pressure water jet dislodges material far more effectively than a shovel, reaching into corners, behind benching and along pipe inverts where manual tools cannot.
For stormwater pipe exposure work, vacuum excavation is the only method that safely removes soil from around PVC, concrete and earthenware pipes without risk of cracking or displacement. When a section of stormwater pipe needs to be inspected, repaired or replaced, our hydro vac exposes it cleanly so the plumber or civil contractor can work with full visibility and unobstructed access.
Our vac truck uses powerful industrial suction to remove accumulated silt, sediment, debris and standing water directly from the stormwater pit into the spoil tank. High-pressure water is then used to flush the pit walls and base, dislodging compacted material that the vacuum removes. The entire process is completed without manual entry into the pit, making it safer and faster than traditional methods.
Most Sydney councils recommend stormwater pit cleaning at least annually, with more frequent cleaning needed for properties near construction sites, heavy tree coverage or areas prone to sediment runoff. Commercial properties and strata buildings often require quarterly maintenance to comply with council environmental management plans.
The most common causes of blocked stormwater drains in Sydney are accumulated silt and sand from construction runoff, fallen leaves and organic debris, tree root intrusion into pipe joints, collapsed or cracked pipes from ground movement, and objects washed into pit grates during heavy rainfall. Regular maintenance prevents most blockages from becoming serious.
Yes. Vacuum excavation uses water and suction rather than metal teeth or buckets, so stormwater pipes made from PVC, concrete, earthenware or corrugated plastic are safely exposed without risk of cracking, crushing or joint displacement. This is why councils and civil engineers specify hydro excavation when working near stormwater infrastructure.
Yes. All silt, sediment and waste removed during stormwater cleaning is vacuumed into our truck's spoil tank and transported to a licensed disposal facility. Pro Expose handles the full process from extraction to disposal, so you do not need to arrange separate waste removal or skip bins.
Pro Expose Hydro Vacs provides stormwater excavation and drain cleaning across all of greater Sydney including Western Sydney, Parramatta, Blacktown, Castle Hill, Hills District, Inner West and surrounding suburbs.
Call Pro Expose Hydro Vacs or send a photo of the job and suburb for a fast, obligation-free quote.