The five most ‘weird and wonderful’ products found in the State’s sewerage pipes have been announced by SA Water following a range of odd items found to be flushed down Adelaide’s toilets.
According to SA Water’s Senior Manager of Production and Treatment, Lisa Hannant, the weirdest objects that called the pipeline home this year have included items such as an intact football, a Caped Crusader’s costume, a pair of pants, false teeth and a traffic cone.
Ms Hannant said the objects were uncovered by plant operators at the utility’s Bolivar facility, forming the annual collection of wonderful objects that provide a never-ending source of entertainment but not without a source of nuisance as well.
“Every year, we remove a large number of items from our sewers which shouldn’t have been there in the first place and we’re constantly amazed by what people have tried to flush!” Ms Hannant said.
“It was rather difficult to narrow it down to a ‘top five’ list, as there’s some truly ridiculous things Adelaideians put down the toilet,” she said.
“Perhaps the footy was a victim of this year’s Showdown, with the person hoping to flush the loss from their mind.”
Ms Hannant identified a superhero costume as her personal favourite as it revealed that a batperson’s flushing habits were definitely questionable although there was also a chance they saw the bat signal calling for help and thought Adelaide’s sewer network was the quickest way to get to where they were needed.
“Larger, solid objects like this can easily block your private plumbing and our sewer pipes when flushed, Ms Hannant said.
“What’s been flushed can come back up, and nobody wants their laundry, bathroom or kitchen to be awash with your number ones and twos,” she said.
“The solution is super simple. Only ever flush the three Ps – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.”
She said that in the instance of the costume and football, they should have been placed in the general waste bin instead.
“We need to respect our sewers instead of treating like rubbish bins, and in turn, they’ll look after us by helping protect public health,” Ms Hannant said.
