Sewage

What are the causes of sewer blockages?

A blockage occurs in a sewer pipe when the flow is inhibited by material inside the pipe. The main causes of sewer blockages are:

• Flushable wipes / baby wipes
• Fat and grease
• Foreign objects that are placed down the drain, such as sanitary items and children’s toys
• Tree roots that have found their way into the pipes
• Cracks or breaks in the pipework.

What do I do if my property's sewer pipes are blocked?

A private plumber will need to be contacted to investigate any residential blockages. If the licensed plumber believes that the issue is on Council side, Council reticulation crew will be contacted and appropriate paperwork will be submitted to Council.

Please refer to Blockage or Damage to Sewer Jump Ups Procedure(PDF, 164KB) for further information

Sewer drain connections - our responsibilities and yours

The sewer and sewer manholes that a house drain connects to are the responsibility of Banana Shire Council.

The house drains are the responsibility of each property owner and they need to be maintained to ensure that stormwater and groundwater doesn’t enter the sewerage system

Check your overflow relief gully

An overflow relief gully (ORG) is a small drain located outside of the home, usually connected to the end of the house sewer. It is designed to release any odours or sewage overflows outside of the property in the event of a blockage and is a critical part of the sewerage system.

Property owners should check their overflow relief gullies regularly to ensure they are properly fitted and operational.

For more information read our overflow relief gully fact sheet.(PDF, 809KB)

Help Council avoid blockages within our sewer network system by being careful about what you flush down the toilet, sink or drain: