Southern Water has joined forces with independent consumer watchdog the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), to educate people about the damage done to sewers by fat, oil, grease and unflushable items such as wipes, tampons and nappies.
The campaign is the first time CCWater has worked alongside a water company on a national project and the two organisations have launched an animation to help customers understand the impact that sewage flooding of homes can cause.
More than 23,000 blockages occur every year on Southern Water’s 39,600KM sewer network, which results in misery for the thousands of customers who suffer internal sewage flooding as a result.
The organisations say that more than two-thirds of the blockages could be prevented by correctly disposing of fat and unflushable items in the bin, instead of down the toilet or sink.
Tim Bagnall, Southern Water’s Wastewater Manager, said: “Sewer flooding can be a really upsetting experience for our customers. Everyone in the water industry knows that fat, oil, grease and unflushables are one of the biggest causes of internal flooding, but it’s amazing how few of our customers make the link between what they flush down toilets and pour down sinks and the sewage flooding their home, if they’re unlucky enough to experience it.
“At least 95% of wipes on the market are not designed to be flushable and even those that say they are can cause blockages. When even a small blockage can cause sewage to flood homes and gardens, it’s something that people really need to be aware of and help take responsibility for.
“Apart from anything else, there’s the cost to home and business owners. The average cost to clear a blockage is around £85 but can vary depending on the work required, and complex jobs can easily run into hundreds of pounds.”
Steve Grebby, CCWater Policy Manager, said: “Sewer flooding causes misery for thousands of households every year and the emotional cost can be just as damaging as any financial implications. Treasured memories and possessions can be ruined in the blink of an eye.”
All the characters in the film are voiced by real Southern Water employees who work closely with the issues of fat, oil, grease and unflushables.
To view or download the film, please go to https://vimeo.com/203984913/92fd4432f5
