Blockages and how to avoid them
How to avoid blockages
Around 75 per cent of the blockages we deal with annually involve disposable items. The blockages are usually caused by:
- fat, oil and food leftovers that solidifies in pipes
- wet wipes including the ones labelled ‘flushable’ block your pipes
- sanitary items including towels and tampons.
Our sewers and your drains are only designed to carry the three ps - paper, poo and pee.
Most of the blockages we deal with can easily be avoided by making simple changes which will help to protect both your home and the environment from sewer flooding.
In your bathroom
Items such as wet wipes and sanitary products should be put in the bin - wipes don’t break down in the same way as toilet paper, and sanitary products and nappies can cause problems too if they are flushed.
These products should not be put in the toilet - dispose of these items in the bin:
- Make-up, cleaning and baby wipes (even if they say ‘flushable’)
- nappies
- cotton buds
- plasters and bandages
- tampons and applicators (both plastic and cardboard applicators)
- sanitary and incontinence pads
- razor blades
In your kitchen
‘Fatbergs’ cause massive blockages in public sewers and can lead to raw sewage backing up into homes and streets.
To prevent ‘fatbergs’ and to keep drains and sewers clear, scrape leftover food and wipe grease from plates and pans before washing.
Sink strainers also help to catch any small bits of food that might otherwise get into your drain.
These items should not be put down the sink - dispose of them in your food waste or rubbish bin:
- cooking fat, oil and grease
- leftover food from plates and pans
- coffee grounds
- kitchen roll.
Working to prevent blockages
Our teams are working throughout the year to prevent blockages to ensure our network operates as it should do and that waste can safely flow to our water recycling centres to be treated.