ACE Body Corporate Management, the largest Australian owned strata housing company,  has warned of the huge damage costs associated with clearing drains clogged with wet wipes and similar items such as tampons and sanitary pads.

ACE Body Corporate Management chief executive Stephen Raff said the company has about 150 lots in Ballarat and the surrounding areas, equating to about 2000 residential units.

Mr Raff said body corporate and property owners are footing the bills between $800-$1000 for the installation of cameras down drains in unit housing to determine who is responsible for clogging drains, should the problem arise.

“What we’re finding is that it’s a particular problem in regional cities like Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong,” Mr Raff said.

“A sewage issue in an apartment block or a unit complex simultaneously has the potential to affect the lives of hundreds of property owners and tenants, so it’s important bodies corporate and their committees are on top of this.

“A lot people think they (wet wipes) disintegrate, but they actually form a hard ball, like concrete.

“It’s very expensive to find out where the blockage is and then they’re difficult to get to.

“People should be binning them (wet wipes), rather than flushing them down the toilet.”

A statement by ACE Body said that 120 tonnes of wet wipes are removed from Queensland’s local sewage systems per year, while in Sydney it is costing local authorities $8 million per year to fix blockages – 75 per cent of which are caused by wet wipes. 

A Central Highlands Water spokesperson said the wet wipes are an issue for the Ballarat region.

“Wet wipes (including those labelled as flushable), disposable nappies and sanitary products are some of the items that can cause problems,” the spokesperson said.

“But kitchen oil, fats and grease can also contribute to blockages in our system. 

“Although there has not been a notable increase in the amount of blocked drains we would like to take this opportunity to remind our customers to be mindful of what they dispose of down their toilets and drains.”

Mr Raff said education is needed to alert residents of the damage caused by flushing wet wipes.

“Ignorance will not be bliss when the sewage system servicing thousands of properties and residents implodes under the stress of this issue so we urge the relevant authorities to drive community awareness.”