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Midcoast Water has asked residents not to flush ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet after workers identified the source of a blockage in Eagle Nest Parade, Smiths Lake was partly due to a build up of wipes
Wipes - baby wipes, facial wipes, cleaning wipes and personal wipes - have the potential to create huge problems in sewer systems.
Wipes, often marketed as a cleaner alternative to toilet paper, don’t break down once they are swept down the toilet bowl.
MidCoast Water crews have dealt with several significant and costly blockages in the sewer systems as a result of the wipes being flushed down the toilet.
The blockaged was discovered after an Eagle Nest Parade resident reported a ‘different’ odour to Midcoast Water.
Investigations showed the source of the odour came from a surcharge at a manhole which was choked with tree root growth and baby wipes.
Tests were conducted near the manhole site and along the lake’s edge near the site to ensure the surcharge had not entered the lake.
Flushing was undertaken to clear any surface contaminants in the area of the surcharge, and the flushed water captured by a pump truck.
This incident and testing results have been communicated to the EPA.
A spokesperson from MidCoast Water assured this incident was unrelated to the fish kill being experienced in Smiths Lake.
MidCoast Water encourages residents to contact 1300 133 455 to report any concerns.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
