South West Water has launched a new campaign asking households to take simple steps to stop blockages and protect the environment.
The “Bin It, Don’t Block It” campaign follows figures showing the company cleared more than 7,000 avoidable blockages in the last year, with three-quarters caused by wipes and fats.
These combine in sewers to form fatbergs, which can cause flooding, pollute rivers and seas, and damage homes and streets.
The company is reminding people that only the “three Ps” – pee, poo and paper – should go down the toilet. Wipes, including those labelled flushable, should be binned. In the kitchen, fats, oils and grease should never be poured down sinks, but cooled and put in the bin along with food scraps and coffee grounds.
Richard Price, Managing Director of Wastewater Services at South West Water, said blocked sewers can “disrupt lives and damage the environment.” He added that small everyday actions “make a big difference” to keeping homes, communities and nature safe.
The company says many sewers are only 15 centimetres wide, so even a single wipe or a little fat can be the start of a much bigger problem.
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