"Debris balls have washed up on Sydney's beaches after a weekend of heavy rain, with the objects found on Malabar beach next to a sewage treatment works and also in Botany Bay. Sydney Water erected a sign at Malabar beach warning of the potential pollution. This area may be affected by sewage debris balls, the sign states. Please do not touch any debris. We are cleaning the area and apologise for any inconvenience."
"On Tuesday evening, there were more than a dozen black and grey blobs among other beach debris. When broken open, they had a foul smell. There were also smaller, grey balls. Guardian Australia reported on Saturday that a giant fatberg, potentially the size of four Sydney buses, within Sydney Water's Malabar deepwater ocean sewer had been identified as the likely source of the debris balls that closed beaches a year ago."
"A secret Sydney Water report stated their working hypothesis was the buildup of fats, oils and grease was in an inaccessible dead zone at the start of the outfall, which delivers primary-treated sewage 2.3km out to sea. Debris balls are released when sloughing events occur due to a rapid change in pumping pressure, previously caused by power outages or heavy rains, the report suggests."
Heavy storms dumped more than 100mm of rain in hours, triggering sloughing events that released debris balls from the Malabar deepwater ocean sewer. A giant fatberg, potentially the size of four Sydney buses, is identified as the likely source of the material. Black, grey and waxy lumps washed up on Malabar and Foreshore beaches and in Botany Bay, some as large as half a house brick and emitting a foul smell when broken. Sydney Water erected warning signage advising people not to touch the debris, organised cleanups, and contractors attended to inspect affected areas.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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