South West Water is urging households and food businesses to take simple steps this Christmas to prevent sewer blockages by keeping fats, oils and grease (FOG) out of sinks, drains and toilets.
Over the past year alone, South West Water has cleared more than 7,000 avoidable blockages from its wastewater network, removing approximately 450 tonnes of waste. Around three-quarters of these incidents were caused by just two items: wet wipes and fats, oils and grease.
The festive period typically sees a rise in cooking fats being poured away, with traditional Christmas meals a key contributor. Each year, around 10 million turkeys are consumed across the UK, with a medium-sized turkey producing roughly three-quarters of a pint of fat. This equates to more than 5.6 million litres annually — enough to fill over 18,500 bathtubs.
Blockages form when fats cool and solidify in pipes, combining with other waste to restrict flow. Without this “food supply”, sewer blockages cannot develop.
Festive tips to prevent blockages
To help keep sewers flowing freely over the Christmas period, South West Water is reminding customers to follow a few simple practices:
- In the bathroom: Only flush the three Ps — pee, poo and paper. Everything else, including wipes labelled as “flushable”, should go in the bin.
- In the kitchen: Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink. Allow them to cool, then scrape or pour them into a container and dispose of them in the bin or food waste caddy.
- Food scraps and coffee grounds should also be disposed of in the bin, not the sink.
Mark Willis, Customer Service & Network Manager for Wastewater Services at South West Water, said: “Christmas is a time for enjoying festive meals and celebrating with family, but it’s also a peak period for fats, oils and grease entering the sewer network.
“By following our simple festive tips at home, households can prevent blockages, protect the environment and help ensure a worry-free Christmas for everyone.”
Supporting food businesses
South West Water is continuing its partnership with environmental compliance specialists ECAS, who work with food businesses across the region to improve the safe disposal of fats, oils and grease.
During Unblocktober, the partnership reached a significant milestone, preventing more than one million litres of FOG from entering the sewer network.
ECAS is reminding food businesses to remain vigilant during the festive period, when kitchen activity increases. Recommended actions include:
- Regularly emptying, cleaning and maintaining grease traps in line with manufacturer guidance.
- Dry-wiping pots, plates and utensils into the bin before washing.
- Using sink strainers to capture food was
