Requests for the Clutha District Council to maintain more stormwater drains on private property prompted discussion of Tapanui's drainage issues by the West Otago Community Board.
At the board's meeting on Wednesday, members talked about a long-standing drainage problem causing flooding at residential properties from Paterson Creek.
Board chairwoman Barbara Hanna said she knew of one property where water flooded the garage during heavy rain as a result of problems with the drain.
In a written report to the board, council water services manager Hank Stocker said Paterson Creek was a natural water course with various sections of open waterway and others confined within pipes of various sizes, materials and ages.
He said few, if any, of the drainage pipes were believed to be anywhere near the standard of council specifications.
Paterson Creek was only a council responsibility where it traversed council property.
The council could decide to bring the Paterson Creek drainage system into Tapanui's stormwater network, but it had to be mindful of the potential costs in doing so, he said.
Mr Stocker advised a comprehensive assessment would be needed to investigate the condition of the drains, which would be a "substantial exercise in its own right", requiring access holes to be dug on private property.
There would also be partial blockages to be cleared before any inspection could be carried out.
Deputy chairman John Herbert said the course was a man-made waterway put in for industry in Tapanui about 150 years ago.
He said a permanent solution was neededand suggested the issue could be "cut off at its source" where it was diverted off a creek.
West Otago ward councillor Jeff McKenzie said with modern technology, there should be a long-term solution.
The board resolved to recommend to the Clutha District Council it investigate options to reduce flood flows from the drain.
The board also discussed Blue Mountain College's request that the council take over the responsibility for maintenance of three stormwater drains on its grounds.
The college said the drains conveyed runoff from a considerable part of the township above the school.
The board resolved to recommend the council adopt two of the drains as part of the public Tapanui township stormwater system.
The old inlet from State Highway 90 had already been blocked off, so the third drain only took in runoff from the college and would not be taken over by council.
