Artificial smoke is blown through the wastewater network to seek out illegal connections as well as leaks and defects. Source: Unitywater.
Thousands of householders are being warned to prepare for thick smoke billowing from backyards in a bizarre move aimed at busting illegal activity and ratepayer bills.
If you see thick smoke billowing from your lawn or roof gutters over the coming weeks, don’t call the fire brigade – but you might need to call a plumber.
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Smoke testing is set to get underway in the Moreton Bay area. Source: Unitywater
In a subterranean blitz, water crews are pumping non-toxic theatrical vapour straight into underground pipe networks to hunt down dodgy plumbing, illegal stormwater drain connections, and multimillion-dollar infrastructure leaks.
The artificial smoke – the exact same vapour used in nightclubs and theatre productions – is forced through wastewater mains under heavy pressure.
Where it emerges above ground, it instantly exposes cracked pipes, broken seals and illegal downpipe connections – so if the grey smoke comes pouring out of your lawn, gully trap or roof gutters, you could be facing a mandatory private repair bill before the next storm hits.
In Queensland, Unitywater’s latest 12-month operation will target thousands of properties across the fastest growing council region in Australia – Moreton Bay – crossing suburbs such as Clontarf, Kippa-Ring, Margate, Redcliffe, Rothwell, Scarborough, and Woody Point.
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Smoke testing for Sydney Water showing it coming out of a rooftop cap. Source: sydneywater.com.au
But the massive infrastructure “smoking” tactic isn’t just restricted to Moreton Bay with major water utilities and regional authorities across the country – including Sydney Water, Urban Utilities, Toowoomba Regional Council, Shoalhaven Water, Coffs Harbour City Council and Western Australia’s Water Corporation – all issuing public alerts over similar disco-style testing blitzes.
In New South Wales alone, Sydney Water is deploying identical underground smoke tactics across a staggering 94 suburbs this year – just a segment of the 27,000 kilometres of subterranean pipes it maintains serving five million residents.
Unitywater executive manager Mike Basterfield warned that unchecked stormwater pouring into sewage lines creates a costly mess that risks sending raw sewage backing up into private yards, homes and local waterways.
Seeing this may mean you’re up for a plumbing bill unfortunately. Source: sydneywater.com.au
He said the unconventional strategy has proven a massive operational success – including exposing illegal household hook-ups.
Regulations vary between states but illegal plumbing work could attract fines of up to $32,000 and void home insurance policies.
“In the five years we’ve been running this program, we’ve proactively identified defects in about 4,000 private plumbing connections, including incorrectly installed or poorly maintained overflow relief gullies and illegally connected downpipes,” Mr Basterfield said.
“Across Moreton Bay, 85 per cent of these defects have been rectified, which has reduced stormwater inflow by 24 per cent.”
A massive reduction like that stops millions of litres of rainwater from flooding sewage treatment plants, drastically cutting emergency network repairs, protecting council infrastructure budgets and keeping downward pressure on ratepayer bills, officials said.
Winter-Spring rainfall during El Nino 2002, 2015. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
The subterranean blitz comes as climate drivers shift with the Bureau of Meteorology warning Aussie householders to brace for a wave of severe weather – with localised atmospheric instability able to unleash violent, sudden downpours that trigger severe storms during El Nino especially in Spring and early Summer.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully warned that weather troughs shifting through New South Wales and spilling into South East Queensland brought a heightened risk of severe storms.
“Severe thunderstorms throughout the coast bring heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding,” Ms Scully warned, noting up to 50mm of rainfall can accumulate quickly during intense storm development.
Urban Utilities in South East Queensland and Toowoomba Regional Council are among those warning property owners that illicit downpipe connections – which funnel rain directly into sewerage mains during intense downpours – can cause dangerous raw effluent to overflow into local waterways and private homes.
Homeowners smoked out over potential dodgy or illegal plumbing connections will be issued official notices, and need to hire a licensed plumber to fix the defects before the next major deluge hits.
The lines of responsibility when it comes to water. Source: Unitywater.
Sydney Water advised households that their crews have authority to smoke out defective private plumbing connected to the main network.
“You may see our crews working in your street, or we may need to enter your property to do our work,” Sydney Water warned in an official notice.
No disruptions to services are expected from the subterranean blitz: “There will be no impact to your water or wastewater services during our inspections. You can continue to use your sinks, taps, toilets, showers and other fixtures as normal.”
Residents in targeted streets across affected suburbs should receive notification letters in mailboxes two weeks prior to testing.