Wastewater

You are here > Home > Council A-Z > Wastewater > Preventing Sewer Blockages

Preventing Sewer Blockages

Wastewater | Leaks, Maintenance and Upgrades | Wastewater Treatment | Bioboost | Maintaining a Septic Tank System | Oakura Sewerage Scheme | Waitara Wastewater Treatment Plant | Approved Products List

We all have a role to play in preventing the district’s sewers from becoming blocked. Knowing what not to flush in your home is the first step in stopping sewage overflowing into the environment.

On average there are 165 blockages to sewer pipes and about 150 blockages of pump stations every year, costing the Council $97,000 to clear and over 260 hours in after-hours call outs. We also spend $46,000 each year flushing sewers to try to prevent blockages. And then there is the environmental impact and disruption to affected residents.

By being careful about what is flushed away, you can help us prevent sewage overflows and reduce our sewer maintenance costs.

What causes the blockages?

Most sewer pipe blockages are caused by inappropriate material entering the sewer system – such as underwear, clothing, fabric rags, paper towels, plastic bags, money, toys, tools, building materials (rubble and dirt), and rope.

Fat and grease disposed of in the sink solidifies and builds up on the side of the sewers until the whole pipe is blocked (just like in our body’s arteries).
 
The only things you should ever flush down a toilet are human waste (urine and faeces) and toilet paper. As a guide, if it doesn’t turn to mush when it’s wet, don’t flush it down the toilet.
 
What not to flush:

• Disposable nappies.
• Tampons and mini or maxi pads.
• Cotton balls and swabs.
• Unused medications. (Return them to your local pharmacy.)
• Condoms.
• Cleaning wipes.
• Facial tissues.
• Bandages and bandage wrappings.
• Grease.

While these may get flushed out of sight, they can build up in the pipes and cause a blockage.

What you can do:

• Scrape food scraps into the compost bin.
• Pour grease into a can, let it harden and throw in the rubbish.
• Don’t flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper.

Did you know?

New Plymouth District has 454km of sewer mains (pipes), with 32 pump stations and 180km of service connections (laterals). Most of the network is made up of pipes 150mm in diameter.

On an average day, 20 million litres of sewage passes through the network to the treatment plants in New Plymouth or Waitara. Sewage will go through up to five pump stations on its way from a house to a treatment plant.

• Contact us