It’s time to talk about what’s being flushed down our loos. Spoiler: It’s costing us millions and breaking records we don’t want to brag about.
Adelaide, we have a problem: last year, our sewers were blocked more than 1,600 times by the prime culprit of ‘unflushable’ items – wet wipes. Even worse, it’s more than any year in history.
SA Water’s Senior Manager of Infrastructure Planning and Strategy, Dr Daniel Hoefel, says there had been a “positive shift” in people’s flushing behaviour in 2023, resulting in a drop in blockages then.
He was hoping to end last year with more good news for the state … but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
The dirty truth: 2024’s record-breaking blockages
As of mid-November, there had already been 1,667 blockages caused by flushed wet wipes across Adelaide reported to SA Water – plus a whole lot more dealt with by private plumbers at people’s homes.
“The numbers don’t lie,” says Dr Hoefel. “We’ve well and truly surpassed the previous record.”
That was in 2022, when there were 1,344 blockages across our city’s sewers.
The worst offenders and weirdest finds
SA Water has revealed the prime offenders are flushing in Seaton, Athelstone and Paradise, with a collective 59 blockages just from wet wipes between them.
And what’s clogging our pipes isn’t just bad for the environment – it’s weird.
Among the usual suspects like wet wipes and cooking oil, SA Water crews have pulled out rubber chickens, false teeth, diamond rings, cricket balls, undies, a football, a superhero costume and even a staggering 250 metres of rope.
Money down the drain
SA Water was forced to spend more than $2 million last financial year to redirect unflushable materials from pipes, pump stations and wastewater treatment plants to landfills.
Add to that the call-out charges from homeowners needing plumbers to fix blockages ASAP, and it’s clear the costs add up fast.
That’s a massive amount of South Australians’ money flushed down the drain – literally.
Wet wipes: What you need to know
By far the number one culprit for Adelaide’s blocked sewers is wet wipes.
Dr Hoefel says that, despite what the packaging might claim, most wet wipes don’t break down in water like toilet paper does.
Instead, they clump together with grease, oils, and even tree roots, forming mega-blockages in our sewer pipes and causing stinky sewage backups – not just in the streets, but right into your home.
In fact, around two-thirds of blockages caused by wet wipes occur at a property’s sewerage connection, which hugely increases the risk of an overflow inside the house. That’s not something you want!
“People are rolling the dice every time they flush,” says Dr Hoefel.
Flush-friendly wipes: Rare but worth it
If wet wipes are still a must for you and your derriere, here’s the key to keeping your pipes happy: Just pop them in the bin instead, because it’s simply not worth the risk of an overflow.
Alternatively, only ever buy wet wipes that are certified to the new Australian and New Zealand Flushable Products Standard.
But here’s the catch: Wet wipes with this certification are rare.
Dr Hoefel says many wet wipes have “flushable” written on their packaging, but without proof of certification, they’re unlikely to meet the Australian standard and can clog drains.
SA’s own The Hygiene Co. became the first Australian company to produce certified flushable wipes last year.
Before launching, their wood pulp-based CleanLIFE flushable wipes underwent seven stages of testing to ensure they break down like toilet paper.
Flush right or pay the price
The average person spends three months of their life on the toilet — the least we can do is treat our porcelain heroes with respect.
So here’s the golden rule: if it’s not one of the four Ps — pee, poo, (toilet) paper or products with PROOF they’re “certified to flush” — it doesn’t belong in the bowl.
As well as the dreaded wet wipes, major culprits causing blockages include tampons, pads, condoms, dental floss, tissues, hair and nail clippings.
These items don’t break down in water and are excellent at tangling with other debris, creating clogs that block pipes and cause sewage backups.
Think before you pour: Sinks are part of the problem
It’s not just your toilet causing trouble – what you pour down your kitchen and bathroom sinks ends up in the same sewer system too.
Food scraps, fats, oils, and grease are the biggest offenders when it comes to sink misuse – all of these belong in the compost or bin, not down our drains.
Cooking grease might seem harmless when it’s warm, but as it cools in the pipes, it hardens and mixes with other waste to form “fatbergs” – huge, congealed masses of grease, food, and trash that block the sewers and are as gross as they sound.
Let the Poo Thru: Gaming for good
If you think this all sounds too much to remember, SA Water has your back with their free app, Let the Poo Thru.
This quirky game for iPhone and Android turns flushing rules into fun, letting players “deflect” unflushable items to keep pipes clean.
Whether you’re a parent teaching your kids or just a bored commuter, it’s worth a download. Who knew protecting your pipes could be this entertaining?
Why this matters: A global perspective
While Adelaide grapples with rubber chickens and wet wipes, 3.5 billion people globally live without safe sanitation.
That’s not just inconvenient – it’s deadly. Around 1,000 children under the age of five die every day from diseases linked to unsafe water and sanitation.
Having a toilet isn’t just about convenience; it’s about dignity, safety and health. Imagine risking illness or harassment every time nature calls.
It’s sobering to realise how lucky we are to have functioning sewage systems, and it’s all the more reason to take care of them.
For more information on keeping our sewers healthy, visit SA Water.