Brisbane’s sewer system is facing a surge in fatbergs, formed when wet wipes and fats clump together to clog pipes, with fatbergs now representing a significant portion of blockages.

Public awareness efforts have intensified, including educating residents about fatbergs and producing materials like the comic Rise of the Fatberg to illustrate the issue.

Wet wipes—some labeled flushable—do not dissolve like toilet paper and can bind with oils and fats to create stubborn blockages.

To accommodate population growth and extend asset life, upgrades such as pipe relining and duplication are being pursued to keep service reliable and costs manageable.

Tree roots and aging infrastructure continue to pose leaks and blockages, prompting Urban Utilities to conduct routine surveys to identify vulnerable areas.

Urban Utilities operates a large Brisbane-area network with a sizeable on-call team, monitoring center, engineers, and support staff to respond quickly to issues.

In 2025, wastewater blockages totaled around 3,000 and cost nearly $3 million to fix, underscoring the financial impact of clogs.

Upgrades aim to balance service reliability with long-term asset utilization, ensuring the network can handle growth while controlling expenses.