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Information, guidance & standards
Protocol for correctly classifying Culverted Watercourses and Sewers
Information from Water UK on the protocol for correctly classifying Culverted Watercourses and Sewers
Publications
Wipes in sewers blockage study
The biggest ever in-depth investigation of sewer blockages in the UK has revealed that wipes being flushed down toilets are causing serious problems in the sewerage system.
Landing page
Fighting fatbergs
… wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and fats oils block sewers 22 % 22% of people admit to flushing wet wipes 88 % … time they build up and block pipes and drains. Drains and sewers were only ever designed to carry human waste, … products labelled as ‘flushable’ do not break down in UK sewers and can contribute to blockages. Individual action: At …
Publications
Wipes in Sewer Blockage Study Final Report
Study on wipes in sewer blockage published in December 2017
News
Spreading the word on unflushables
Water UK continues to work with retailers and manufacturers and to ensure non-flushable products are not thrown down the toilet and into sewers. Baby wipes, cleaning wipes and other non-flushable materials can block sewers and cost customers and water and sewerage companies millions of pounds a year in cleaning and repairs.
News
Non-flushable wipes and other products
Baby wipes, cleaning wipes and other non-flushable products can block sewers and cost customers and water and sewerage companies millions of pounds a year in cleaning and repairs.
News
Help to prevent sewer flooding
Sewer blockages cost millions of pounds to put right every year and cause damage to people’s homes and the environment.
News
Fighting the festive fat
Water companies across the UK are working with Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to give away around 200,000 fat traps and funnels to people buying their Christmas turkey or roast. Each year, thousands of sewer blockages happen because people pour cooking fat, oil and grease (FOG) down their kitchen sinks.
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Our 25 year plan for waste water
… for waste water Our 25 year plan for waste water To expand sewers and reduce sewage going into rivers Every water and … plan. This is to maintain, improve, and expand drains and sewers, to deal with the more intense rainfall that comes … and flood risk from rainwater Find out more … To expand sewers and reduce sewage going into rivers … Our 25 year plan …
Information, guidance & standards
Storm overflows
100,000 kilometres of England’s sewer pipes were built before the mid-1960s and use an old-fashioned design that carries two kinds of waste: rainwater from street drains, and sewage from homes.
They are therefore known as ‘combined’ sewers. Combined sewers were built many decades before modern rates of population growth and climate change were understood, which means that there is often now more sewage and rainwater going into these systems than first envisaged.
Information, guidance & standards
Unflushables
Wet wipes are a leading cause of fatbergs and sewer blockages which have a major impact on the environment and contribute to pollution in our rivers and water courses.
Thousands of properties suffer sewer flooding every year in the UK, creating misery for homeowners and businesses, and leading to costly clean-up bills and increased insurance costs.