I N SP E CT ION, C CTV & C OND ITION AS S E S S M E N T
SEWER BLOCKAGE RATES
slashed thanks to
MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN Coliban Water has reported record low sewer blockages in the last year thanks to a dedicated program of sewer maintenance and preventative cleaning known as Stop the Block.
C
oliban Water Executive General Manager Service Delivery, Danny McLean, said an Essential Services Commission report handed down earlier this year shows a decrease in blockages. The Stop the Block campaign was launched in 2016, increasing investment to over $1 million each year to improve sewer performance and reduce service interruptions, overflows, and impacts to communities and the environment.
80
“In the last financial year, we recorded 18 blockages per 100km of sewer, which is a dramatic reduction since the 2013/14 financial year, where we recorded in excess of 60 blockages per 100km,” Mr McLean said. “It’s also a reduction from 22 blockages per 100km in the 2019/20 financial year. “The 70 per cent reduction means more than 3,800 blockages have been avoided in the last seven years. This is a huge reduction in customer and
UTILITY • MAY 2022
environmental impacts. It’s also saving customers’ money on reactive sewer repairs and clean-up costs. That’s a real win for the community,” he said. During 2020/21, there were record low blockage counts in several months, including in December and March, which contributed to an overall record low blockage rate for the year. “We have been utilising closed circuit television (CCTV) to assess the condition of around 3,500 poor performing sewer mains throughout
WWW.UTILITYMAGAZINE.COM.AU
