Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Halloween Fright In Napier’s Pipes: The Rag Monster Lurking Underneath City Streets
Halloween is here, but the scariest monster in Napier has been lurking underground all this time.
The "rag monster" was found by Napier City Council in its wastewater network this month, while updates to the system were being carried out.
Rag monsters are made up of wet wipes, sanitary items, clothing, floss, hair, paper towels, wood, and fats or oils and are usually found when wastewater pumps clog and pipes block or overflow.
The costly clogs can block pipes and damage pumps. They are especially common after heavy rain and, on average, Napier council staff expect to find 30 blockages a month, with roughly $200,000 spent annually in the city getting rid of them.
"We encourage people to throw wipes and other non-flushables in the waste bin instead of the toilet," a Napier Council spokesperson said.
"Worst case scenario is this can cause sewage to back up into homes and streets, and pollute waterways, posing health and environmental risks.
"This is why it's really important that we are proactive in trying to prevent these issues by conducting regular maintenance to keep the wastewater system running smoothly."
A council worker tasked with confronting rag monsters said cleaning out the clogs is hard and messy work.
"It can happen at any time, and it makes our job much tougher. It is frustrating because it could be easily avoided if people didn't flush the wrong things. Please only pee, poo and put toilet paper down the loo."
Small clogs can form in days, but larger rag monsters may take months to create as wipes, grease, and other items pile up.
Individual "rag monsters" cost between $500 and $1000 to clear.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Local Democracy Reporting
Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.
Gordon Campbell: On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
National Wetland Trust: Public Asked To Help Prevent Fires In Wetlands This Summer
Lillian Hanly, RNZ: The Year In Politics - Stories That Dominated The Headlines In 2024
Waikato Regional Council: Studies Open Door To Mercury Islands Underwater World
Office of the Privacy Commissioner: Christmas Is About Giving, But Don’t Give Up Your Privacy
The Rail Advocacy Collective: Chris Trotter - Running Us Off The Rails
Natural Hazards Commission: More Landslide Claims Than Ever; NHC Encourages Homeowners To Get Prepared
