Our top 3 tips to keep your drains flowing:
- Wrap up all sanitary items, and put them in the bin - never put them down the toilet
- Leave leftover cooking oil, fat and food to cool and put it in the bin
- Medicines, tablets, syringes and needles should be taken to your pharmacist, hospital or health authority for safe disposal.
Taking care of your drains and pipework
Blockages and damaged pipes lead to millions of pounds being spent annually nationwide on plumbers and tradesmen trying to put the problem right. It also leads to headaches for residents affected by the problems, including non-flushing toilets and backed up drains.
There are approximately 370,000 sewer blockages throughout the UK every year, of which 80% are caused by unflushable items (source: Seeing Red Briefing published by WEN - the Women's Environmental Network).
By following these guidelines, you can help to ensure you minimise the risk of blocking pipes and drains in your home:
Period products
Tampons and other period products are not meant to be flushed down the toilet - they cause blockages and do not naturally deteriorate like toilet paper. They should always be put in the bin.
Alternatively, you could try using reusable period products, like a menstrual cup or reusable pads. This is a great way to tackle period pollution, and it may work out cheaper for you. Find out more in the Seeing Red Briefing by the Women’s Environmental Network (WEN).
Cooking grease and food
Grease should never be poured down any drain. It may look like a liquid that can easily be dumped down a drain, but when it cools it will congeal and clog the pipes.
Baby wipes/wet wipes/cleaning pads
Baby wipes are becoming increasingly popular in everyday household use. They are also increasingly causing clogs and backups in sewage pipes. Although some brands may say they are flushable, never flush these, always bin them!
Dental floss
Although it is a small product and seems logical to flush away, dental floss is not easily degradable, and causes serious clogs and environmental damage.
Cotton buds and balls
You might think that cotton would break down, since some toilet paper is made from cotton linen, but cotton itself does not break down easily. Cotton buds and balls can cause stoppages at bends in the pipe.
Nappies
Nappies are designed to expand in water. In the unlikely event that you get the nappy to flush, it could still get caught in the U-bend of the pipe. You should always bin nappies instead.
Alternatively, you could try reusables. Did you know, the average baby will use 3,796 nappies by the time they are 2½ years old? Reusable nappies are better for the environment, and they are cheaper than disposables in the long run. You can find more information at the Money Advice Service.
Pills
Pills and medication can have toxic effects on groundwater supplies and wildlife.
Paper towels and tissues
If you use paper towels (not toilet tissue) please throw them in the bin, and do not flush them down the toilet. Tissues other than toilet paper do not degrade easily.
Cigarette butts
Cigarette butts are full of toxic chemicals that end up going into groundwater. If you smoke, please dispose of the butts properly, making sure they are completely put out and then placing them in the bin. Using an ashtray with a damp bottom is highly recommended.
Animal waste
Animal waste should not be flushed down the toilet, as we cannot treat the water for associated illnesses such as toxoplasmosis.
Shared drains and responsibilities
Many of our homes have shared drains. There are a lot of pipes, drains and sewers hidden away from view inside homes and under the ground. The responsibility to maintain these pipes and drains can vary depending on where the problem is.
Our responsibilities
We are responsible for the pipes, gutters and drains in and around your home, including the drain from your property up to your boundary (unless it is a shared drain where several neighbouring properties’ drains meet together before they join the public sewer, in this case it will be your utility company’s responsibility to maintain).
Please note: if it is found that a blockage has been caused by your negligence (e.g. by flushing non-flushable items down the toilet) we may recharge the cost of the repair to you.
Your utility company’s responsibilities
Your utility company is responsible for the public sewers that take sewage, rainwater and run off to treatment works, as well as the pipes from the boundary of your property up to where they connect to the public sewer. Shared drains where several properties’ drains meet together before joining the public sewer are also the responsibility of your utility company to maintain.
Your local authority’s responsibility
Road gullies (the small grate-covered openings at the edge of roads) in Red Kite car parks and service roads are our responsibility. But all other road gullies are the responsibility of the local authority.