Sewer blockages
Regardless of what kind of sewerage system your property has, it is in your best interest to avoid costly blockages.
In our experience, the main causes of a sewer blockage include:
- Wet wipes (even the ones labelled "flushable"), tissues, kitchen paper, and rags being flushed down the toilet.
- Rubbish, children’s toys, tennis balls, nappies, clothing, sanitary pads/tampons, cooking waste, sand, and other wastes not suitable for flushing into the sewer system.
- Tree roots infiltrating the property pipes.
- Crushed or flattened pipes that have been damaged.
- Pipes that have been laid poorly.
Only the 3 P’s should be flushed down the toilet – Pee, Poo and (toilet) Paper.
Tree roots and sewers
Tree roots damage sewer lines and can lead to clogged, overflowing, and slow-flowing drains. If this occurs within your property it is your responsibility to contact a plumber and have the tree roots removed, and the pipe fixed.
Root damage can also let stormwater into the pipes. During heavy rain, this extra water can overload the sewer system causing it to overflow into our waterways and pollute the environment.
Image of an earthenware pipe blocked by tree roots.
What to do if you have a sewer blockage
If your property is showing signs of a sewer blockage, such as drains slow to release or gurgling noises, use our online service request so that we can investigate. We will investigate the problem within a few days, and if the issue is in Council's mains we will clear the blockage at no cost to you.
If the problem turns out to be within your property, we will advise you to then contact a plumber.
Visit our Report a Problem page to find out more.
What to do in the event of a sewage overflow
If you are experiencing a sewage overflow, call us now!
We are available 24/7 and will respond as soon as possible.
During the inspection, if we discover there is a blockage within Council's main, we will clear the problem at no expense to you. If the problem turns out to be within your property, we will advise you to call a plumber.