19 June 2023
East Gippsland Water recently attended a sewer blockage at the Wallaby Walking Track in Metung, where sewage was overflowing from a manhole.
This was caused by an accumulation of fats, oils and grease inappropriately disposed of by local residents from their cooking activities.
Neville Pearce, Executive Manager Service Delivery, said: “The disposal of fats, oils and grease down the drain is a harmful practice and I urge residents in Metung and all across East Gippsland to use proper techniques of disposal to avoid this serious problem occurring in the future.
“On this occasion, we were very lucky that the sewage spill did not have any impact on human health or the environment as the surrounding thick vegetation acted as a barrier and prevented the sewage from spreading downstream into the local creek.”
The disposal of fats, oils and grease into the sewage system can lead to costly repairs, system overloads and environmental spills. Residents can help avoid these by following these simple Do’s and Don’ts:
Do:
- Recycle used cooking oils, fats and grease or properly dispose of it by pouring it into a sealable container and dispose of it in your regular rubbish bin
- Put food scraps into the rubbish bin not the sink
- Before washing pots, pans and dishes, wipe them down with dry paper towels then throw away the paper towels in the rubbish bin
- Install sink strainers or catch baskets over the sink drain to catch food scraps, disposing them in compost or rubbish bins.
Don’t
- Pour cooking oil, pan fat/drippings, grease or sauces down the sink
- Use a garbage disposal or grinder – grinding food does not remove fats, oils and grease
- Use kitchen cloths or sponges to scrape plates or clean oily, greasy dishes. This will still put the fats, oils and grease down the drain.
You can dispose of motor oil and other household waste free through East Gippsland Shire Council.
Let’s keep East Gippsland water and sewer systems clean and sustainable.
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