Published on Thursday, 16 April 2020 at 12:59:56 PM

Media statement

629 Newcastle Street LEEDERVILLE Western Australia 6007

Telephone (08) 9420 2555

15 April 2020

Water Corporation crews are asking you to do your bit – think before you flush

Water Corporation is asking the community to make our wastewater crew’s work-day easier, by ensuring they only flush the 3P’s – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.

Items such as wet wipes, paper kitchen towel and sanitary products should be disposed of in a bin, as this material does not break down in wastewater pipes and can cause blockages.

Water Corporation Great Southern Regional Manager, Adrian Stewart, said crews had stepped up their planned maintenance to clear potential blockages before they happen, but the community needed to do its bit.

“Across Western Australia, our crews are on-the-ground ensuring our essential water and wastewater services continue to be provided to our 1.3 million customers,” Mr Stewart said.

“If a blockage occurs in Water Corporation’s wastewater network, then our crews have the unenviable job of clearing these blockages, and since the start of this year they have cleared 1,965 blockages (as at 7 April 2020) in the wastewater system.

“Over the past five years, we’ve spent nearly $20.4 million clearing blockages from wastewater systems across the State. 

“I’m asking the community to do their bit to ensure our crews are only being called out to essential work, and not to clear blockages caused by incorrect things such as wet wipes, paper towels and newspaper being flushed down the toilet.

“Even items that are marketed as flushable cannot be flushed down the toilet. The only things that should be flushed are the 3Ps – pee, poo and (toilet) paper – everything else goes in the bin.

“Thank you to the Western Australian community in advance from our crews who are on the ground each day performing essential work to ensure you continue to receive safe and reliable water and wastewater services.”

Blockages can also occur in the internal plumbing of a home, and householders are then responsible for any plumbing repair costs.

To report a fault with the wastewater system, phone Water Corporation’s 24 hour Faults, Emergencies and Security line on 13 13 75. 

Did you know?

• Water Corporation manages 17,193km of wastewater mains, 1,178 wastewater pump stations and 112 wastewater treatment plants across Western Australia
• In 2018-19, around 165 billion litres of wastewater was treated and safely returned to the environment or recycled
• Read the Water Services Association of Australia’s Fact Sheet: Only Flush the 3P’s https://www.wsaa.asn.au/publication/flushable-products-fact-sheet

Media contact:

Media Team

P: (08) 9420 2555

E: media@watercorporation.com.au

Follow us on Twitter @watercorpwa

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