Rubbish in Carterton’s wastewater network. Photo: Supplied / Carterton District Council
Superhero costumes, nappies, and cooking oil - these are just some of the items recently identified as clogging up Carterton's wastewater system, prompting the council to put the hard word on residents.
The costume - which the council identified as a "child's Batman getup" - and nappies are items that can jam pump stations in the wastewater network, the aerators at the wastewater treatment plant, and other machines.
In recent weeks, pump stations have been getting blocked up by wet wipes and similar items, a Carterton District Council (CDC) spokesperson said.
CDC consents, compliance, and operations manager Rachel Round said even "flushable" wipes were not really flushable as they did not break down.
"It is important to be mindful of the damage to our infrastructure that can be caused by flushing non-bio-degradable items away," Round said.
"Please remember the three Ps," she said. "If it's not pee, paper or poo, do not flush it down the loo.
"Anything else blocks our systems and takes away key staff from essential work. No wipes down the pipes, please."
She asked residents to "refrain from disposing of these items down the sink or toilet".
"Instead, nappies and wet wipes should be disposed of in the garbage, and clothing and other non-flushable items should be recycled or disposed of in designated bins."
Round said it was not just bathroom waste that was causing problems.
Grease and oils poured down the kitchen sink slide through pipes and meet up with other greasy conglomerates, fabrics, and single-use plastic items that have been flushed down the toilet.
Over time, these items build up, creating a "fatberg" that jams up the pipework.
"We ask that you avoid draining oils and fats into the wastewater system," Round said.
"You help the network and the environment by cooling and collecting your cooking fats, oil, and grease in a covered container and putting them in a rubbish bin.
"You can dispose of cooking oils at our transfer station.
"Scrape pots and pans into your rubbish bin before rinsing and washing, and add a strainer to your sink to catch food scraps and other solids that can collect with any fats and create a blockage.
"And certainly, I'm sure our local op-shops and reuse centres would be happy to take any used superhero outfits from you."
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
