Spreading the word about wet wipes

Dave Cade – aka Didymo Dave – spreads the word about a new kind of pest threatening the Lake Taupō environment. Photo : Dan Hutchinson

Dave Cade – otherwise known as Didymo Dave – has a new message to spread.

Despite repeated messages form the Taupō District Council about the complications that arise when people flush wet wipes and other undesirables down the drain, people just aren’t getting it he says.

“We need to go from council to community. We have got to get the community involved.”

Wet wipes do not break down quickly in the sewers like toilet paper does and are a commin source of pipe blockages. Recently there have been sewer overflows into the lake as a result.

He says his message – a handpainted sign on the back of a ute – is deliberately low-budget and designed to be “dublicatable”.