Xylem is calling on plumbers to help educate consumers about what not to flush down the toilet amidst growing concern around the effects on our sewerage networks. David Spragg at Xylem explains.
For one reason or another, we have become a disposable society and unfortunately that means that many people throw items, usually destined for the dustbin, down the toilet or waste pipes. The ensuing mess is costing industry thousands of pounds every year and presenting a real risk of sewage entering people’s homes.
Last year, sewage made national headlines as a 10-tonne mass of fat and baby wipes was removed from a sewer in Chelsea. The reality is no funny matter – crews spent days clearing the mess and then a prolonged period of repairs were required costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. The cause is however preventable – fats, oils and grease down the drain and the constant barrage of wet wipes must be moderated and controlled.
The solution is two-fold; the water industry including plumbers, must help to educate the market about what to flush and what not to flush, and secondly product developers must clearly label products as being unsuitable for flushing. The Snap protocol was designed with this in mind, helping manufacturers to understand and address the issue and to ensure packaging is clearly labelled. The simplest message of all is to consumers, only flush the three p’s; poo, pee and paper – anything else and it doesn’t belong in the toilet or our sewers.
Some of the big hitter items causing blockages are wet wipes, cotton wool and cotton buds as well as sanitary products. Other more unusual items include fish and other family pets including gerbils and hamsters and that’s before considering our sinks and plugholes and the vast amount of fat disposed of there. The general belief is that if the item flushes from view its ok, but the reality is far from the truth and we need to try and help people to understand this.
Industry statistics have shown, that between April 2015 and March 2016 there have been over 3,600 incidents where people’s homes have been flooded by sewage and over the same period, over 34,000 properties have been affected by external sewage.
With 1000’s upon 1000’s of miles of sewers beneath our feet, keeping all blockages at bay is a mammoth task and can’t be done by the water companies alone. The cost of repairs and constant maintenance runs into the tens of thousands and much of it is preventable. We each have a role to play and it’s important that we all play it.
Needless to say, education is a crucial part of the equation and by helping to ensure we keep the sewers clear, we are not only safeguarding our sewer systems, but also our future bills. Surely that’s reason enough to make a few simple changes to our disposal habits?
For more information contact Xylem on 0115 940 0111 or visit www.xylemwatersolutions.com/uk
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