Welsh Water’s campaign to cut £7m sewer blockage bill

Welsh Water has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage people to be careful what they flush away in a bid to cut the £7 million annual cost of blocked sewers. […]

Welsh Water has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage people to be careful what they flush away in a bid to cut the £7 million annual cost of blocked sewers.

The 12-month ‘Let’s Stop the Block’ campaign aims to change consumers’ behaviours when it comes to putting things down the toilet and disposing of fat, oil and grease to help reduce the risk of pollution and sewage flooding.

The company said it deals with around 28,000 blockages a year, mostly caused by items like cotton buds being flushed down the toilet.

Steve Wilson, Director of Waste Water Services said: “Cutlery, giant cuddly toys, cans, bricks, mobile phones, tricycles – it’s surprising what we find in our sewer network. Of course, these unusual examples are quite rare. Most of the 2000 blockages we deal with every month are caused by everyday items put down the toilet such as wipes, sanitary towels, cotton buds and dental floss as well as fat, oil and grease that people have put down their drains.

“A lot of people aren’t even aware that these items can cause sewer flooding and pollution in their homes and communities. It is actually illegal to throw or empty anything into our network that’s likely to damage a sewer or drain or to interfere with its free flow.”

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