The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators is keen to encourage Livery halls, businesses, and individuals both inside the City, and throughout the UK, to support the “Bin It, Don’t Block It” campaign. Unblocktober estimate we could see close to 1.3 million sewer blockages across the UK over the next 5 years with a potential repair cost of at least £500 million. For example, Thames Water clear around 75,000 blockages from their sewers each year. Many of these are caused by items like wet wipes, sanitary items and cotton pads that can’t break down. When they’re flushed down the loo, they combine with cooking fats and oils, eventually blocking pipes. This can force raw sewage back up drains, plugholes, and toilets and into homes. Blocked sewer pipes can also lead to unnecessary sewage overflows into our rivers polluting the environment. Plastic products such as wet wipes and cotton buds flushed down the loo can also end up in our rivers, polluting the environment.
What can Livery companies and their members do to support the campaign?
In your bathroom and toilet
Bin the nasties – Wipes, condoms, sanitary products, cotton wool, and dental floss are some of the biggest offenders in our sewers. Throw them in the bin, not the loo. Livery halls should ensure they have the facilities to bag and bin these products in their toilets. The three Ps is the best rule to remember when it comes to what’s flushable; pee, poo, paper. Nothing else!
Switch it up – There are loads of alternatives to wet wipes and sanitary products on the market now. Why not try a few? You’ll be helping the planet in more ways than one.
Myth: ‘Flushable’ products are safe to put in the loo – Many companies market products as ‘flushable’. But these wipes contain plastic, so they won’t break down the same way as toilet paper does. Although they’ll disappear when you flush, they won’t completely leave your drains. Pop them in the bin to be safe. The only wipes you can flush safely are ones with the ‘Fine to Flush’ mark, as they’ve been designed to break down in the drain.
In your home or Livery hall kitchen
Lovely leftovers – Resist the temptation to tip old food down the kitchen sink and be sure to scrape it in the bin. If it’s more of a ‘liquid’ food like gravy, use some kitchen roll or newspaper to soak it up, then put it in the bin.
Fat, oil and grease – Cooking fat and oils will eventually turn solid and build up in your pipes. Instead of pouring them down the sink, collect them in a container like a jam jar or yoghurt pot. Leave them to cool, and once they’ve set, scoop them out and pop them straight in the bin.
Your local council may also have a special way to dispose of fat, oil and grease – check with them if you’d like to find out more.
Why do we need your help?
48% of the British public have flushed wet wipes.
1.8 billion is the estimated number of cotton buds flushed down our toilets each year.
48% of the nation pour fats, oils and grease (FOG) down their drains.
Below are links to the “Bin It, Don’t Block It” campaign led by Thames Water and Unblocktober, an annual campaign launched in 2019.
Unblocktober | A month to Save Our Sewers and Seas
Rob Casey,
Past Master, Worshipful Company of Water Conservators