It’s that time of the year when decorations are dazzling and the festive spirit is flowing, but it’s also the time when gruesome ‘fatbergs’ can clog up the sewer network, as nasty blockages caused by fat, grease and other unflushable items find their way into the pipes.
Southern Water are urging Islanders to think about what they are putting down the drain to avoid a post-Christmas and New Year’s catastrophe. Blocked sewers can mean flooded toilets, kitchens and even neighbourhoods.
Christmas lights, footballs, t-shirts and cutlery are just some of the unflushables found in the sewers over recent years. For every 1 million turkeys cooked, around 250 tonnes of fat and oil finds its way into the sewer network.
Across the Isle of Wight there have been 3,384 sewer blockages over the past 5 years alone.
AlexSaunders, Head of Southern Water’s wastewater network, has said:
“No-one likes a nasty surprise over the festive season and our sewers are no different. This is the time of year where we do see an increase in blockages, and so many of these can be easily avoided.
“A blocked sewer can cause flooding to homes and businesses and unclogging them can take a lot of time, effort and disruption for local communities. So please only flush the three P’s down the toilet (pee, paper and poo) and avoid putting oils and grease down the drain too.
Top tips to play your part in reducing blockages:
In the kitchen
- Fat, oil and grease (known as FOG) should never go down the drain. Instead, gather them in containers, allow them to cool, and put them in the bin
- Leftover uncooked food and vegetable peelings can be composted, and cooked foods binned, so they stay well clear of plug holes and drains
- Any leftover sauces or yoghurt should be put in the bin too
In the bathroom
- Flush only the three Ps down the loo – pee, paper and poo
- Nappies, baby wipes, tampons, sanitary towels, panty liners, colostomy bags and condoms should be bagged and binned
- Cleansing wipes, ear buds, dental floss, plastic razors and cotton pads should go in the bin, not down the loo
