Lots of things go down our sinks and toilets, some that shouldn’t, some by accident. About 20% of all blockages in our sewerage systems result from putting the wrong things down sinks and toilets.

The fats, oils, meat juices, food scraps and other foreign objects that are put down the sink or toilet can collect and build up in the pipe work and sewer pump stations.
When fats, oils and meat juices are put down the sink it is usually as a liquid, but as it cools it can become more solid and cause build-up, bad odours and blockages in the sewerage system. This can lead to sewage overflows into the environment, households and businesses.

All of these things can be expensive to fix.

Collapse all – Expand all +

  • Instead of pouring fats, oils and meat juices down the sink, put them into a container, seal it and throw it in the bin.
  • Wipe greasy pots and pans with a paper towel, rather than rinsing them in the sink before they’re washed.

  • If you have a compost heap, place your food scraps on that.

    So next time you’re about to put something down the sink, or flush it down the toilet, think about the damage it could cause and the cost to fix it.

To assist businesses and industry manage their liquid waste Power and Water accepts approved trade waste to the sewer to minimise the disposal costs and to protect the environment.

To manage the discharge of trade waste to the sewer, Power and Water has developed and implemented the Trade Waste Management System (TWMS).
The two key documents of the TWMS are the “Trade Waste Code” and the “Guidelines for On-site Pre-treatment”.

Trade waste is defined as “liquid or liquid borne waste generated from any industry, business, trade, manufacturing process or similar that is approved for discharge to sewer but does not include wastewater from a toilet, shower, hand-basin or similar fixture”.
Power and Water Corporation is licensed by the Utilities Commission under the Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act (The Act) to provide sewerage services in the Northern Territory. The Act prohibits the discharge of trade waste to the sewerage system without the written approval of the licensee ie. Power and Water.

More information

For more information about our sewerage system and to see the Trade Waste Management System documents go to our Trade Waste page.