Fatbergs, congealed masses of non-flushable waste, are wreaking havoc on Victoria's sewer systems. 

Reports say the issue is costing millions annually, with Melbourne and Geelong among the hardest-hit areas.

Yarra Valley Water reports about 1,200 blockages yearly, spending $1 million to clear them. 

In Geelong’s CBD, Barwon Water recently removed its second major fatberg this year. Located 30 metres underground, it was cleared within three days using high-pressure water blasting. 

A larger fatberg in April, stretching 15 metres, took three weeks to remove, disrupting nearby homes and businesses.

Barwon Water managing director Shaun Cumming says fatbergs are “a big problem”, formed by improperly flushed items like wet wipes, tampons, fats, and food scraps.

 “Each week we remove about the equivalent weight of two elephants’ worth of rubbish from the sewer network,” he told reporters.

The financial impact extends across Victoria, with Barwon Water spending $600,000 annually on blockages. 

South East Water spent $770,000 last year addressing about 1,000 fatberg-related issues, while regional providers like Gippsland Water and Wannon Water also report frequent, costly blockages.

Fatbergs also create environmental risks, with lockages resulting in sewage overflows. 

Across Victoria, sewer blockages have dropped 4.9 per cent over the past year. However, Yarra Valley Water has reported a 4 per cent increase, particularly in Melbourne’s growing urban corridors, emphasising the need for public education on waste disposal.

Water authorities stress that only “the three Ps” - pee, poo, and paper - should be flushed. It is also important to note that most wet wipes fail Australian disintegration standards, despite some being labelled as flushable.

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