By CAITLIN MCARTHUR
BLOCKAGES and a build-up of fat and grease at the Lilydale Sewage Treatment Plant has Yarra Valley water warning customers to think twice about what they put down the drain.
General Manager of Infrastructure Services at Yarra Valley Water David Snadden said people needed to understand the troubles that could be caused.
“We all know where number ones and twos go, but there is no such thing as a number three so please do not put anything else down the drain,” Mr Snadden said.
Mr Snadden said despite the worldwide circulation of pictures of the ‘fatberg’ in London’s sewerage system last year, the world had still failed to grasp the need for grease, oil and fats to be disposed of properly.
A ‘fatberg’ is a blockage in the sewerage system, caused by the disposal of fats, oil, and grease through drainage systems. The one found in London was reported as being the size of a bus and was the result of several years of build-up.
Yarra Valley Water is looking to residents to ensure this doesn’t happen in Melbourne.
Mr Snadden identified fat, grease and oils as a real concern, “they block pipes, restricting flow and ultimately the speed of service we can provide to our customers”.
The pressure caused by the build-up can cause sewage spills and damage to the pipes.
Yarra Valley Water listed the top 10 causes for blockages as: plastics, paints, pesticides, fats, grease and oils, food scraps, cotton buds, nappies, condoms, sanitary products and medicines.
Treated sewage is either re-used or returned to creeks, rivers and oceans.
Mr Snadden warned that putting the wrong things down the sewer affected the ability of Yarra Valley Water to treat the water and had the potential to cause serious environmental damage.
