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SewerageSewerageClick on elements of the model or select from the tabs below This waste pollution may result from:
The sewerage system is generally taken to comprise:
Detailed information can be found here. Although there is strict legislation covering sewage in Queensland, damage can still result from the improper disposal of materials down toilets, including plastic bags, sanitary items and chemicals. Small plastic items that are flushed into the sewerage system can get caught in pumps and create blockages, causing overflows and contamination. Illegal dumping down manholes can also damage sewerage infrastructure. As in so many other areas, the presence of microplastics and their flow through sewerage plants is only just being investigated. Microbeads (tiny pieces of plastic) are used as ingredients in many cosmetic products. Many microbeads are too small to be filtered out by wastewater plants and end up flowing into rivers and oceans[1]. Oils and fats in the sewerage system can combine to form ‘fatbergs’. These are difficult and expensive to manage, and can cause substantial damage to infrastructure, resulting in system closure and further expense. Waste pollution in the sewerage system moves through the environment via four pathways: References
Last updated: 10 May 2021 This page should be cited as: Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2021) Sewerage, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/management/pressures/litter-illegal-dumping/sources/sewage/ |