Sewers Not a Rubbish Bin

Sewers Not a Rubbish Bin

City West Water is reminding customers across its service area to avoid disposing of rubbish and other wastes through toilets and drains to limit the risk of sewer blockages and potentially costly repairs.

City West Water Managing Director Anne Barker said that while the bulk of the community are responsible about what they dispose of into sewers, there have been instances where blockages occur as a result of inappropriate disposal of items into the sewerage system.

“While it’s pleasing that the majority of residents and businesses are taking notice of what they dispose of in the sewerage system, our response crews sometimes respond to incidents where waste has been inappropriately disposed of in the sewerage system,” Ms Barker said.

“These types of incidents can be costly to repair, can risk the safety of our maintenance staff, and also result in public health and environmental hazards if the sewers become blocked and overflow.”

Ms Barker said that items that should not be put into the sewerage system include cooking fats, unwanted chemicals, hygiene items, food scraps, unused medicines, solvents and engine oils. Businesses are also advised to ensure that they comply with their trade waste agreement when discharging trade waste to sewer.

“There really is no excuse for placing oil and chemical wastes in the sewer – these sorts of contaminants can have a serious impact on the environment, and most councils offer a free disposal service for these.

Ms Barker said householders who dispose of used cooking fats down kitchen sinks run the risk of costly repairs caused by blockages to the drains within their properties.

“It’s a basic principle of science – water and oil don’t mix, and if you rinse oils and fats down your drains, over time, there’s a chance householders will be up for an expensive plumbing bill to unblock their household drains.

“The sewerage system is not a rubbish bin, so food waste, personal hygiene items, oils and chemicals should be disposed of in other, more environmentally friendly ways.

Ms Barker said that contaminants in the sewerage system can have a direct impact on treatment processes, and it was everyone’s responsibility to keep the sewer system free of contaminants.

“What goes in your toilet, and down your sinks and drains, can affect the environment and even though sewage is treated, many household substances and items that get into sewage can still end up in Port Phillip Bay and the ocean.”

What not to put down the toilet, sink or drain
• food scraps
• cooking oils and fats
• cotton buds
• cigarette butts,
• unused pharmaceuticals and medicines,
• condoms or sanitary products
• plastic bags
• engine oils, petrol, diesel, kerosene
• chemicals, paints and pesticides