Pictured: Sydney Water spends millions clearing 3500 items from wastewater network

A cabbage patch doll head, lego pieces, jewellery, money and keys are among the many items which have made their way into Sydney Water’s wastewater network. See the worst offending suburbs:

A cabbage patch doll head was found at the Bondi Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photo: Sydney Water

A cabbage patch doll head, lego pieces, jewellery, money and keys are among the many items which have made their way into Sydney Water’s wastewater network with $2m million spent to clear 3500 blockages in just three months.

It comes after Sydney Water responded to more than 6000 faults in the network with Sydneysiders urged to be mindful of what they flush down the toilet this Christmas holiday period.

Exclusive Sydney Water data found Castle Hill – for the second year in a row – to have topped the list with 33 blockages in the past 12 months.

The suburb was followed closely behind by Blacktown’s 32, and Penrith’s 28.

The majority of the blockages were caused by ‘fatbergs’ which Sydney Water’s head of wastewater and environment Iain Fairbairn said resulted from wet wipes and other unwanted debris combining with grease and fat which clog up the sewer pipes.

“This holiday season we’d like to remind our customers items such as wet wipes, tissues, sanitary products, cotton buds, dental floss and other household waste should never be flushed down the toilet,” he said.

Teddy bear found in the wastewater network.

“We also need to think about how we are disposing of fats, oils and food scraps from our Christmas feasts and BBQs, they shouldn’t be washed down the kitchen sink but scraped in the bin or compost instead.”

Mr Fairbairn said during this festive season, “kids are often playing with new toys … and can find it amusing to drop things into the toilet, only to find they might not come back”.

Each year, Sydney Water removes about 500 tonnes of wet wipes and other material from the wastewater network at an estimated cost of more than $12 million.

A Sydney Water worker removing ‘fatbergs’. Photo: Sydney Water

Crane removing ‘fatbergs’. Photo: Sydney Water

And each week, crews are called out to clear about 100 blockages on average. As a result, Sydneysiders are asked to use their rubbish bins and dispose of unwanted items properly.

One of the more peculiar items recently found at Sydney Water’s Bondi Plant was a cabbage patch doll head.

Among others were lego pieces, small figurines, teddies, Christmas baubles and decorations, jewellery, watches, keys, money, Airpods, and lighters.

A Sydney Water spokeswoman said even a brick was found which was believed to have been dumped in the network from a building site.

Top 12 ranked suburbs of chokes caused by soft/debris chokes during 2022/23

1. CASTLE HILL

2. BLACKTOWN

3. PENRITH

4. WAHROONGA

5. ROSE BAY

6. KATOOMBA

7. QUAKERS HILL

8. CAMPBELLTOWN

9. BOTANY

10. BAULKHAM HILLS

11. PADDINGTON

12. MAROUBRA