Sewer spill caused by face wipes

14 January 2015

A Turangi sewer spill caused by wet wipes being flushed down drains has prompted a call for people to do the right thing.

Following the spill on Te Rangitautahanga Road, Taupo District Council is urging people to dispose of wipes in a bin and not flush them down the toilet. Infrastructure manager Denis Lewis said it wasn't the first time a spill had been caused by the wipes.

Despite what it says on the packaging of some of these wipes, they do not immediately break down with water. They end up blocking drains and causing sewage spills, he said.

The spill happened on Monday, with sewage contaminating two properties just before midday. It took council contractors about 20 minutes to clear the blockage from the manhole the spillage had come from. They then removed the waste and disinfected the area.

Mr Lewis said one of the properties affected was a holiday home and the other had a tenant. The last thing we want is for members of our community to be dealing with sewage spills, he said. We need to really think about what we're putting down our drains.

In the past, everything from curtains to items of clothing had been found to cause blockages, he said. Grease, fat, bandages, sanitary pads and nappies have also caused the same problems.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz