Sewer blockages
Sewer blockages are caused when rubbish that can't break down gets trapped in the sewer system. Blockages are expensive to fix, and can lead to sewer spills, which are a risk to our environment, waterways, and public health.
Slow draining toilets or drains, bubbling noises, or overflow from your plumbing or overflow relief gully can all be signs of a blockage. If your pipes are blocked, contact us and we'll ask you some questions. Blockages can be treated by a licenced plumber, drain cleaner or Coliban Water depending on the location and type of blockage.
Flushable or unflushable?
The 3Ps are the only things other than water which are safe to flush down the toilet. Do you know what they are? Test your knowledge below, by dragging flushable items to the toilet, and unflushables to the bin.
Unflushable items can combine to form a hard blockage known as a fatberg. These can cause sewer pipes to back up and overflow into homes, backyards, streets and local waterways.
Did you know: Wet wipes alone contribute to 75% of all sewer blockages and spills.
Top tips to 'stop the block' in your home
Everything you wash down your kitchen, laundry or bathroom sink, or flush down your toilet, makes its way into our sewer system. Putting the wrong things down your drains or in your toilet can cause blockages in your home, problems in our sewer pipes, or even lead to nasty sewer spills.
But it's easy to 'stop the block' when you know how. Implement the following advice around your home and help keep our sewer network running efficiently.
Unlike toilet paper, wet wipes, tissues and tampons are designed to soak up water, not break down in it. These items, and everything other than the 3Ps, belong in your bathroom bin.
Medications should never be flushed down the toilet. Expired and unwanted medications can be taken to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.
Only water should be going down your drain. Tip food scraps and coffee grounds into the bin before rinsing and use a strainer to catch any remaining debris.
Use paper towel to soak up fats and oils and place these in the bin. Even milk and other everyday items can be harmful if poured down the sink.
Many washing powders contain salts and bulking agents that impact recycled water quality.
Try to reduce the amount you use or consider a phosphate-free variety.
Never pour chemicals, petrol, oils or paints down your drains (other than shampoos and cleaning products). These can damage our waterways and kill the good bacteria that work to break down sewage at our water reclamation plants.
Check with your local council for the best way to dispose of chemicals and paint.
Tree roots can intrude into pipes, catching oils and rubbish. This can reduce the flow of sewage and cause costly blockages.
To protect your pipes from tree root damage:
- Locate your pipes before planting trees or shrubs. Contact CIS Services,
who manage sewer pipe information in Victoria. - Plant a safe distance from pipes.
- Ask your local council about nature strip requirements.
- Know which species to plant using Coliban Water Smart Gardens.