Is milk bad now? No, but it is contributing to a $12 million plumbing problem
Australia's wastewater management bodies have – Sydney Water says it spent $11.7 million to manage 11,805 clogs in its network, many caused or worsened by a build-up of fats, between July 2024 and April 2025 – and they'd very much like for it to stop.
But that would require households axing the popular kitchen habit of pouring milk down the drain, a fact taking the whole world by surprise.
Let's start from the beginning.
What is a 'fatberg'?
'Fatberg' sewer blockages, like the one that caused the 'bitterly disappointing' cancellation of Canadian singer Bryan Adams' Perth concert in February, are quite common.
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Of the 3200 blockages South East Queensland's Urban Utilities spent $2.2 million clearing last year, more than 400 were caused by fats, one of the main ingredients in fatbergs. Victoria's Yarra Valley Water says in the past five years, it's spent around $5 million clearing preventable blockages, with most of the roughly 1200 annual blockages caused by fats, oils, and wet wipes. Western Australia's Water Corporation, meanwhile, spends more than $1 million annually removing fatbergs, with 850 of the 1329 preventable wastewater blockages in FY2023-24 attributed to fats, oils and grease.
Every water management retailer in Australia provides differing services across various locations, with population density, climate and topography impacting the frequency – and size – of fatbergs. The consequences, however, are the same from seaboard to seaboard.
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Is milk bad now? No, but it is contributing to a $12 million plumbing problem
They say don't cry over spilt milk, but whoever 'they' is has probably not been whacked with a hefty fee to clean it up. Australia's wastewater management bodies have – Sydney Water says it spent $11.7 million to manage 11,805 clogs in its network, many caused or worsened by a build-up of fats, between July 2024 and April 2025 – and they'd very much like for it to stop. But that would require households axing the popular kitchen habit of pouring milk down the drain, a fact taking the whole world by surprise. Let's start from the beginning. What is a 'fatberg'? 'Fatberg' sewer blockages, like the one that caused the 'bitterly disappointing' cancellation of Canadian singer Bryan Adams' Perth concert in February, are quite common. Loading Of the 3200 blockages South East Queensland's Urban Utilities spent $2.2 million clearing last year, more than 400 were caused by fats, one of the main ingredients in fatbergs. Victoria's Yarra Valley Water says in the past five years, it's spent around $5 million clearing preventable blockages, with most of the roughly 1200 annual blockages caused by fats, oils, and wet wipes. Western Australia's Water Corporation, meanwhile, spends more than $1 million annually removing fatbergs, with 850 of the 1329 preventable wastewater blockages in FY2023-24 attributed to fats, oils and grease. Every water management retailer in Australia provides differing services across various locations, with population density, climate and topography impacting the frequency – and size – of fatbergs. The consequences, however, are the same from seaboard to seaboard.
