<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="NSW "><span>NSW </span></a><span>Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered Sydney Water to remove a fatberg that caused </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/beach-balls-sydney-investigation-into-mysterious-ball-debris-expanded-by-epa/0be7dc83-5138-4fd3-a9c9-77cb5435212a" rel="" target="_blank" title="debris balls to wash up along the state's coast"><span>debris balls to wash up along the state's coast</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Malabar Wastewater Treatment System, which was identified as the likely source of the debris balls, was found to have a build-up of fats, oils and grease in a hard-to-reach section of its deep ocean outfall. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The EPA today issued </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney "><span>Sydney </span></a><span>Water a pollution reduction program, requiring it to carry out significant works.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-tariffs-aussie-meat/a95f76b5-8c2e-4610-b57a-4c6fb6a9ada7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump tariff hikes to hit some Aussie meat products</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This includes removing the build-up from the outfall, education campaigns for residents and restaurants to reduce the amount of fats, oils and grease from entering the wastewater system, long-term upgrades at Glenfield and Liverpool treatment plants to take the load off Malabar and a system to capture debris overflowing from the sewer during severe wet weather events. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney Water must also study the formation and weathering of debris balls to make them easier to track and consider the use of artificial intelligence or other technology to monitor their formation. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW EPA executive director of operations Steve Beaman said these changes would directly respond to the debris balls. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/debris-balls-sydney-water-ordered-to-remove-fatberg-from-malabar-treatment-plant/32eed159-b4be-4cb8-9c86-a6b5b6f7004f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Sydney Water is responsible for ensuring it doesn't pollute our beautiful beaches, and this important work is a step towards that," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Debris balls are a complex problem and the EPA will continue to regulate Sydney Water to protect our precious natural environment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-global-entry-suspended-what-does-this-mean-for-australians-explained/d0e2dbb7-f6bf-405c-a70c-9e454e91f8a1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major US closure could cause chaos for Aussie travellers</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state has thrown </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-3-billion-plan-to-prevent-debris-balls-from-washing-up-on-beaches/ce522c52-19a8-4ead-84a4-fbd8d5ee74cf" rel="" target="_blank" title="$3 billion over 10 years at upgrading the city's wastewater system"><span>$3 billion over 10 years at upgrading the city's wastewater system</span></a><span> to prevent any further debris balls. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It would reduce the amount of wastewater discharged through Malabar's ocean outfall and upgrade the system to keep up with the growing population. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes after debris balls sporadically washed up along the state's coastline between late October and 2025, forcing dozens of beaches to shut. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS 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