What Is a Pre and Post Construction Drainage Survey?

A pre and post construction drainage survey is a CCTV inspection of an existing sewer or stormwater asset located within the area of influence of proposed works.

The process usually involves two inspections:

Pre-Construction CCTV Survey

The pre-construction survey is completed before building or civil works begin. It records the current internal condition of the existing sewer or stormwater pipe and identifies any existing defects, damage or serviceability issues.

This creates a baseline record of the asset before construction starts.

Post-Construction CCTV Survey

The post-construction survey is completed after the works are finished. The same asset is inspected again and compared against the original condition.

This helps confirm whether the asset has remained unchanged or whether any new defects, damage or movement have occurred during construction.

Why Are These Surveys Required?

Council sewer and stormwater assets can be affected by nearby construction activity, especially when works occur close to buried infrastructure.

A CCTV drainage survey may be required when construction works are near or over:

• Sewer mains

• Stormwater mains

• Council drainage pipes

• Easements

• Maintenance holes

• Stormwater pits

• Property connection points

• Buried public drainage assets

Construction activity can potentially impact underground pipes through excavation, vibration, loading, compaction, trenching, piling, boring, heavy machinery movement or changes to ground conditions.

A pre and post construction survey helps protect all parties by providing visual evidence of the pipe condition before and after the works.

Common Projects That May Need a Pre and Post Survey

Pre and post construction CCTV surveys are commonly required for projects such as:

• New homes

• Granny flats

• Duplexes and townhouses

• Subdivisions

• Commercial developments

• Extensions and renovations

• Retaining walls

• Driveways and crossovers

• Earthworks

• Excavation near council assets

• Service trenching

• Civil construction works

• Works within or near drainage easements

In many cases, the property owner, builder or developer may not regularly deal with CCTV drainage inspection companies until council, an engineer or a certifier requests the survey.

HD Inspections can help make the process straightforward by completing the inspection, recording the condition of the asset and providing practical reporting for submission.

What Does the CCTV Survey Check For?

The survey records the internal condition of the existing sewer or stormwater pipe and identifies visible defects or changes.

Common observations may include:

• Cracks or fractures

• Broken pipe sections

• Displaced or open joints

• Root intrusion

• Infiltration or water entry

• Debris, silt or obstructions

• Pipe deformation

• Poor connections or intrusions

• Construction-related damage

• Signs of movement or settlement

• Existing defects present before works begin

• New defects identified after construction

The purpose of the survey is to clearly document the asset condition at both stages, helping determine whether any changes occurred during the construction period.

Why the Pre-Construction Survey Matters

The pre-construction CCTV survey is important because it records the condition of the asset before any site works begin.

This can help identify existing defects that were already present before construction, reducing the risk of disputes later. For example, if a sewer or stormwater pipe already has cracks, root intrusion or displaced joints, the pre-construction survey provides evidence that those issues existed before the new works started.

This baseline footage can be valuable for builders, developers, property owners, councils and engineers.

Why the Post-Construction Survey Matters

The post-construction CCTV survey confirms the condition of the asset after the works are complete.

The pipe is inspected again to check whether any new damage or defects have appeared during construction. If the asset condition is unchanged, the survey can support project close-out and council sign-off requirements.

If new damage is identified, the footage and report can help locate the issue and support decisions around repair, responsibility and rectification.

What Is Included in the Survey Deliverables?

Depending on the project requirements, HD Inspections can provide:

• CCTV footage of the inspected sewer or stormwater line

• Pre-construction inspection records

• Post-construction inspection records

• Defect observations and comments

• Still images of key defects

• Distance-based defect locations

• Pipe size, material and asset details where available

• WinCan reporting where required

• WSA05-style sewer inspection reporting where applicable

• PN5-style stormwater condition assessment where applicable

• Summary information suitable for client, council or engineer review

Our goal is to provide clear, useful documentation that supports the project requirements without making the process more complicated than it needs to be.

Sewer and Stormwater Assets Within the Area of Influence

The term area of influence generally refers to the zone around a proposed development or construction activity where existing underground assets may be affected.

If a council sewer or stormwater pipe is within this area, the asset owner may require evidence that the pipe condition has been checked before and after the works.

This is especially common where proposed construction is close to an easement, crosses over a buried asset, or places new loads near existing drainage infrastructure.

A CCTV survey helps confirm the actual condition of the pipe rather than relying only on plans, assumptions or surface observations.

Who Needs This Service?

Pre and post construction CCTV drainage surveys are commonly arranged by:

• Builders

• Developers

• Homeowners

• Certifiers

• Engineers

• Civil contractors

• Plumbers and drainage contractors

• Project managers

• Town planners

• Subdivision contractors

• Commercial property owners

For many clients, this may be the first time they have needed a CCTV drainage survey. HD Inspections can help explain the process, inspect the required asset and provide reporting suitable for project records and submission.

Pre & Post Construction CCTV Surveys Across Queensland and Northern NSW

HD Inspections provides CCTV sewer and stormwater inspections across South East Queensland, wider Queensland and Northern NSW.

We support projects across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, Northern NSW and regional Queensland.

Whether your project involves a new dwelling, granny flat, subdivision, commercial development or civil works near an existing council asset, HD Inspections can provide the CCTV survey and reporting needed to document the asset condition before and after construction.

Book a Pre or Post Construction CCTV Drainage Survey

Need a CCTV survey for an existing council sewer or stormwater asset near your construction project?

HD Inspections can help with professional pre and post construction drainage surveys for pipelines 150mm diameter and above, including CCTV footage, defect observations and reporting for council, engineer and project requirements.

Contact HD Inspections today to discuss your project or request a quote.