Avoid the Fatberg
What You Flush Matters
Question:
“I use a lot of those flushable wipes. Recently, there has been talk that these block drains, and Water Corporation is asking residents to stop flushing them. Is this true – and should I stop using them?”
Answer:
Too right it’s true — and we see the proof of it nearly every day. As plumbers, we pull all sorts of weird and wonderful things out of people’s drains. Toys, jewellery, the odd critter… I’ve even found a set of dentures. But one of the biggest troublemakers by far? Those so-called flushable wipes.
They may go down the loo, but they don’t break down like toilet paper does. These wipes are tough — they’re made to stay strong, which is great when you’re using them, but terrible for your pipes. Once they’re flushed, they can easily get caught on cracks in old pipes or tangled up in tree roots. From there, they start to trap grease and fats from the kitchen sink — and that’s how a fatberg forms.
What’s a Fatberg?
Imagine a rock-hard lump made of cooking grease, wipes, hair, and who-knows-what-else clogging up your drain. That’s a fatberg. It blocks up your sewer lines, causes backups, and often smells worse than last week’s bin night.
Once it’s in there, it’s tough to remove. We usually start with mechanical tools like an electric eel or high-pressure water jetter, but sometimes even those aren’t enough. When that happens, we have to dig up the yard and remove the blockage by hand — not fun for anyone.
Wipes May Seem Handy, But…
Flushing wipes might feel convenient, but the damage they cause can cost you big. It’s not just homeowners footing the bill — local councils and water authorities across Australia are spending millions to fix this mess. Sydney Water, for example, has even looked at legal action against brands labelling wipes as “flushable.”
So, what can you do?
- Don’t flush wipes – even if the label says “flushable”
- Bin your bathroom and baby wipes
- Avoid pouring fats or oils down the sink – wipe them into the bin instead
- Keep an eye on slow drains – they could be the start of a fatberg
When in Doubt, Call the Pros
Dealing with blocked drains is part of what we do — and yeah, some of us enjoy the challenge. But let’s be honest, no one enjoys ringing up a plumber because the loo won’t flush.
If your drains are gurgling, slow to empty, or backing up, don’t wait. Call The Plumbing and Electrical Doctor. We service homes across Canberra, Newcastle, Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens.
Clearing a Blocked Sewer Drain with an Electric Eel
THE DOCTOR GETS IT DONE