This technique, used by water utilities throughout Australia, will help Unitywater identify breaks or openings in the underground pipe network, loose seals on maintenance holes or incorrect plumbing connections from homes and businesses.
Joshua Zugajev, Executive Manager Strategic Engagement at Unitywater, says the maintenance program is an effective tool against potential overflows, ahead of the storm season.
“During heavy downpours, incorrect connections can direct large volumes of stormwater into the wastewater network and overwhelm it, increasing the chance of wastewater overflows to the environment and back up into homes,” said Mr Zugajev.
“While stormwater-related surges aren’t the only reason for overflows, they’re something that we can avoid if both Unitywater infrastructure and customer pipework’s are correctly installed and maintained.”
The smoke testing process involves blowing non-toxic, non-flammable artificial smoke through the wastewater network, before it emerges from designated sewer vents or through cracks that need repair or incorrect connections that need to be realigned.
Unitywater crews will also inspect external areas of customers' properties to check for any visible defects in their connections to the wastewater network.
“The last phase of the program inspected over 20,000 properties across the Nambour region and uncovered over 500 plumbing defects,” said Mr Zugajev.
“The identification and rectification of these issues has resulted in a 10% reduction in stormwater inflows in the catchment, which means less chance of homes in that region experiencing an overflow.”
Customers will receive advance notification via letterbox drop a minimum of two weeks prior to inspections occurring in their area.
In cases where defects are identified on a customer's property, Unitywater will communicate the findings and request customers to take reasonable steps to address the issues.
“We find that most people have no idea they had a problem with their plumbing connections and are keen to quickly fix any issues, for the benefit of their local waterways and neighbours.”
Unitywater crews will carry out the sewer network testing between July 2024 to January 2025 in the following suburbs:
- Golden Beach
- Pelican Waters
- Moffat Beach
- Dicky Beach
- Battery Hill
- Currimundi
- Caloundra West
- Little Mountain
- Wurtulla
- Bokarina
- Warana
- Mountain Creek
- Buderim
Residents can check if their neighbourhood is next on the testing schedule by visiting: https://www.unitywater.com/sewer-network-testing.
