Huge ‘rag ball’ pulled from BOI wastewater system

A massive ‘rag ball’ with the potential to cause major damage to the council’s wastewater network took contractors three days to extract from a key Haruru pump station last week.

Three sucker trucks were needed to remove the huge volume of rags blocking the Haruru Major Pump Station. This is a critical asset that takes wastewater from Ōpua, Paihia, Waitangi, Haruru and Watea. However, it’s not the first rag ball extracted from the Paihia wastewater reticulation system. Another was cleared from the Waitangi Major Pump Station earlier this year.

Rag balls are created by fibrous materials flushed down toilets combining with congealed fat. They can quickly grow, restricting wastewater flows and damaging pipes and other key infrastructure. This can result in untreated wastewater spilling into the environment.

Wet wipes flushed down toilets are a major cause of rag balls. Most wet wipes contain plastic, so they don’t break down and instead gather to form ‘balls’ which soak up food fat and grease.

The latest rag ball extraction has prompted council wastewater engineers to remind all households and businesses connected to council wastewater systems that the only material wastewater systems are designed to take other than human waste is toilet paper because it breaks down quickly. Nothing else should ever be flushed down toilets, they warn.

Removal of rag balls and the damage they cause to wastewater systems is a considerable – and totally avoidable – cost for ratepayers. 

Photo: A massive ‘rag ball’ from the Haruru Major Pump Station