How to avoid blockages

We deal with around 13,000 blockages on our network every year at a cost of around £5m, with around 75% of them involving disposable items.

The most common causes of blockages are:

• wet wipes, including those labelled flushable
• sanitary items, such as towels and tampons
• fats, oils and grease (FOGs) and food leftovers.

To keep your home blockage free, only flush the three Ps: paper, pee and poo.

Wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of blockages because they don’t break down in the same way as toilet paper when flushed.

You should never flush any of the following items:

• wet wipes, including make-up, cleaning and baby wipes (even if they say ‘flushable’)
• nappies
• cotton buds
• plasters and bandages
• tampons and applicators
• sanitary and incontinence pads
• any other sanitary products.

You can help the environment by avoiding single-use items in general. Try using reusable alternatives where possible.

Your drain is not designed to carry FOGs and food leftovers. When put down the drain, they can lead to blockages.

To prevent blockages in the kitchen:

• scrape leftover food into the bin
• wipe grease from plates and pans before washing
• use sink strainers to catch any small bits of food
• dispose of coffee grounds and kitchen roll in the bin.