The Lone Drainer and Pronto. The Gondolier and the Oar maker

I woke this morning May 29th 2023 to read the Sydney Morning Herald story from Venice about the Grand Canal turning a distinctive green. A colour familiar to me.

It looks like the fluorosceine dye we emergency plumbers use to identify the source of water and sewage leaks. It’s often been used by school kids young and old for end of year pranks to turn a fountain green. I believe it is harmless to small aquatic organisms.

I immediately sent a text message to Gio my Venetian gondolier mate to say G’day. It’s a few years ago now that we had Gio guide us around his home town of Venice. Aaah. Travel and plumbing! Spend six minutes with Gio as he shows me around the workshop of Paolo Brandolisio his oarmaker.

On June 1st 2023 a similiar green dye appeared in Melbourne’s Yarra river.
Follow this link to see the story on Australian ABC.

Click here to see other blog posts about Venice courtesy of Gio

Do tree roots grow in sewer pipes during winter?

As we transition into another Sydney winter, my thirst for knowledge about trees and their roots and how and why they grow in sewer pipes and whether they are as active as during the warmer months led me to here.

This magnificent display of London Plane trees in Woollahra was just starting to move into autumn mode and we were called to a blocked drain in the street. The blocked drain was caused by tree roots.

Tree roots generally grow more slowly or become dormant during the winter months. The growth of tree roots in drains is influenced by several factors, including temperature, soil conditions, and moisture availability. In colder climates, where winters are harsh and the ground freezes, root growth is typically limited or even halted.

During winter, the soil temperature drops, making it less favorable for root growth. Additionally, the availability of water is often reduced due to freezing or low precipitation levels. These conditions make it difficult for roots to actively grow and expand. Our seasons are changing but traditionally winter in Sydney is our dry season.

However, it’s important to note that tree roots can still function and absorb some nutrients from sewer pipes and drains during winter and continue to cause blockages albeit at a slower rate. They continue to provide support and anchorage for the tree, even if growth is minimal. I believe they are preparing for the spring while they’re hibernating.

And that’s why we still have to attend to tree root drain blockages during winter.

Root growth typically resumes in the spring when temperatures rise, and the soil becomes more conducive to growth. As the weather warms and soil conditions improve, tree roots become more active, allowing for increased growth and development.

Now if you live north of the NSW and Queensland border this theory would probably be tested because it doesn’t cool down as much as the southern states.

If you live in Australia’s sunny north and have a tale to tell about your blocked drains and tree roots, you can tell it here.

Full Flush or Half. Which is used more?

It depends! On the context and the specific type of toilet. But think about your own use.

Remembering, not everyone on the planet has a flushing toilet and unbelievably, a full toilet flush is more water than most people in the world use every day.

In some places, toilets have a dual flush option, where the user can choose between a half flush and a full flush, depending on the waste being disposed of. The dual flush toilet cistern was invented by an Aussie, Bruce Thompson at Caroma industries in 1980 as a water saving function for the dry continent

Generally, the half flush is used more frequently than the full flush, as it is typically used for liquid waste and the full flush is used for solid waste. However, it can be varied by country, region or building regulations, as some places may require the use of a half flush for all waste to conserve water.

So I say, its the half flush that gets used the most. What do you think?