Australia’s environmental superhero, Captain Cleanup, will talk to students in Northam, Meckering, Goomalling and York about items that are kryptonite to the Water Corporation’s wastewater system.
Water Corporation’s Regional Manager Sharon Broad said toys, tennis balls, scissors, cotton buds, toothbrushes and jewellery had made their way into the wastewater system recently.
“After flushing the toilet, it doesn’t just disappear,” Mrs Broad said. “It leaves your house with other wastewater from your sink, shower, bath, dishwasher and washing machine, which makes wastewater 99.97 per cent water.”
“Once wastewater leaves your house through pipes, it goes to a wastewater treatment plant. Items that are not meant to be flushed can block pipes, which is an unpleasant problem to fix, and can be an expensive one too.
“So we have asked Captain Cleanup to help educate local students about what not to flush and the problems these items can cause to the wastewater system.”
Captain Clean Up will visit Northam, West Northam, St Joseph’s, Sacred Heart Catholic, Goomalling and Meckering Primary Schools as well as Northam Senior High School and York District High School. Students will now become environmental superheroes and spread the word to their families about how they can help look after the wastewater system to ensure public health and the environment are protected.
