Blockage being removed from central Geelong sewers

BARWON Water is expected to clear a major sewer blockage that formed in central Geelong at some stage today (Thursday, November 21), following daytime works carried out in multiple locations along Bellerine Street.

Local residents had their neighbourhood temporarily disrupted throughout the works, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday this week.

The location of the “fatberg”, a messy mass formed by congealed non-flushable material, required Barwon Water to return to the same area that required emergency works back in April.

The incident in April was more complex, which took a fortnight to resolve, while this week’s build-up of material was cleared within three days. “Sewage will be diverted from the blockage area, to ensure services continue as normal during this time,” Barwon Water General Manager Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure David Snadden said.

The sewer is located about 30m underground, with Barwon Water closely monitoring and cleaning the site as required.

Mr Snadden reminded people to make sure what exactly was flushed down the sewers.

“Things like wet wipes, tissues, sanitary items, paper towel and rubbish can form together, causing blockages that can lead to sewage spills. “These blockages and spills can affect our natural and built environments, while being expensive and time consuming to fix.”

Sewer blockages cost Barwon Water approximately $600,000 per year, formed by products such as non-flushable wipes, sanitary items, food scraps, fats and oils clogging the system.