Sydney Water has launched a new campaign called ‘Toilet Blockers Anonymous.’ It aims to remind people to only flush the 3 Ps (pee, poo and toilet paper) to avoid costly and environmentally damaging chokes and blockages, known as fatbergs.
Sydney Water spends around $27 million a year dealing with up to 20,000 network blockages caused by people flushing household waste products such as dental floss, hair, paper towels, non-flushable wet wipes, and other items.
Sydney Water’s Head of Wastewater and Environment, Iain Fairbairn, said the campaign uses humour to address a serious issue and encourage people to change their behaviours.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of chokes occurring in our network over the last 12 months,” Fairbairn said. “We are creating an opportunity for people to start an uncomfortable conversation about their toilet habits. Some people don’t think twice about flushing a tissue or dental floss, but the reality is that non-flushable wet wipes, fats, oils and grease, as well as items like cotton buds and sanitary products, are a significant threat to our wastewater network. Around 75 per cent of wastewater blockages involve rubbish that should be put in a bin and not flushed down the toilet. It’s all about highlighting the simple things our customers can do to avoid expensive plumbing bills and protect the environment by remembering “a blocked loo is on you.”
Impact of fatbergs and chokes
From January to April 2024, Sydney Water crews have already attended over 3699 jobs at a cost of $917 a choke.
“If we work together, the impact on our environment and the cost to customers will be significantly reduced,” Fairbairn said.
The most recent customer data shows men aged between 18 and 29 are the biggest culprits when it comes to flushing rubbish down the loo.
“Some people are not aware how much damage flushing the wrong thing down the toilet can do,” Fairbairn said.
The campaign features a group of toilet blockers who flush a variety of items that do not break down and contribute to the most significant blockages. The group is struggling with the temptation to flush inappropriate waste down their toilets.
Over the past 12 months, Sydney Water crews responding to chokes in the wastewater network have found bizarre items, including:
- Kids’ toys (dinosaurs, Barbies, pop toys, fairies, sharks etc)
- Vapes
- A kayak
- Tea towels
- Rags
- Face masks
- Chocolate/lolly wrappers
- Sanitary items
- Plastic bags
- Duct tape
- Golf balls
- Nappies
- Jewellery
- Teeth
- Car Keys
- Crayons
Top ten suburbs where chokes and fatbergs have been caused primarily by the flushing of inappropriate items:
|
SUBURB |
CHOKES |
|
Penrith |
35 |
|
St Ives |
30 |
|
Castle Hill |
29 |
|
Rose Bay |
28 |
|
Engadine |
27 |
|
Blacktown |
26 |
|
Greenacre |
26 |
|
Sutherland |
26 |
|
Quakers Hill |
25 |
|
Ingleburn |
23 |
What people think is okay to put down the toilet (but is not):
- Tissues – 48 per cent
- Hair – 22 per cent
- Dental floss – 7 per cent
- Facial, hand or body wipes – 5 per cent
- Cotton wool – 5 per cent
- Tampons – 5 per cent
- Household cleaning wipes – 4 per cent
- Baby wipes – 4 per cent
- Cotton buds or earbuds – 4 per cent
- Condoms – 4 per cent
- Bandaids – 3 per cent
- Disposable nappies – 2 per cent
- Sanitary pads – 1 per cent
Related Articles:
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- Galahs, fatbergs and Cousin It – all found in Melbourne sewers
- Happy 125th birthday to the first toilet flush!