Council urges residents to flush as normal

In response to an April Fools Day prank, Hamilton City Council is urging residents to ignore a radio station's fake advice and continue to flush their toilets as normal to avoid stress on the city network.

Radioworks stations More FM and The Breeze broadcast a fake news item this morning advising Hamilton residents to hold off from flushing their toilets until 4pm today.

Hamilton City Council Waste and Water Operations Manager Russell Bond says the advice is false and Council's Water and Waste and Customer Service staff have been inundated with calls from concerned residents this morning who had heard the fake news item the Radioworks recorded.

"We're telling residents that both More FM and The Breeze news items and the DJ purporting to be an official issuing advice to residents is fake.

"While there are some excellent public facilities in the city we are sure residents would be more comfortable at home.

"Hamilton's city waste water network is currently fully operational and we are expecting no issues that would mean residents can't use their bathrooms as per normal.

"Unfortunately if residents take the prank seriously and follow false advice not to flush until 4pm, there is a potential that the waste network could be overloaded and failures could occur.

"Council was not informed that the fake news item was to be run and we are eager to urge residents to continue to flush as normal to ensure this damage does not happen."

Mr Bond said that any residents facing any normal operational issues should feel confident that they can continue to call Council's usual hotline 07 838 6999.