How to avoid blockages

Avoid blockages and sewer flooding by putting the right things down the drain.

Common blockage causes

We deal with around 13,000 blockages on our network every year. Around 75% of them involve disposable items.

The most common causes are:

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

Keeping your home blockage-free

Watch this video or see our advice below to find out how to avoid blockages in your home.

In the bathroom

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. They don’t break down in the same way as toilet paper when flushed.

You should never flush:

• 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.

In the kitchen

You should also avoid putting fats, oils, grease (FOGs) and food leftovers down your sink drain.

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

To prevent them, you should:

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

The impact of blockages

Blockages can cause damage to both your home and the environment.

They can lead to sewage backing up into your home or garden. This could also leave you with an expensive plumbing bill.

Blockages can burst sewers or cause them to overflow. This can lead to flushed items entering rivers and the sea, harming wildlife and habitats.