SEWER blockages have increased by 20 per cent during the coronavirus lockdown and are creating gigantic “ragbergs” due to a lack of toilet paper from stockpiling.
Thames Water said they have seen an increase of about 10 sewer blockages per day compared to normal due to bulk buying of toilet roll leaving some using whatever “unflushable” alternatives they can find.
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The latest so-called ragberg — a clump of wet wipes, nappies and sanitary products — was fished out of Shoppenhangers Road in Maidenhead on Tuesday.
It comes as shoppers bulk-buying toilet paper, leaving others turning to alternatives such as wet wipes, tissues, kitchen roll and newspapers, the water firm said.
Such items combine with fats, oils and grease when flushed down the toilet — creating fatbergs or ragbergs.
Stephen Sanderson, area network manager for Thames Water, said: “Wipes and things like kitchen roll if used instead of toilet paper can’t go down the loo.
“As nasty as it sounds, if people do use them as a last resort, they need to be put in a bin and disposed of safely.”
Thames Water said before the lockdown it was seeing a reduction of about 10 per cent in blockages.
However, it has since seen a jump of up to 8 per cent compared with the average for the same month in 2017 to 2019.
Helen Apps, External Affairs manager from United Utilities, said they were already seeing blockages increase.
She told The Sun Online: “In the last week, we’ve seen about seven per cent more waste water blockages than normal.
“Anecdotally our front line team say they are seeing more ‘unflushables’ turning up in sewers like kitchen towel or wet wipes.”
“It’s a key time to flag the message that you should only flush the three P’s: pee, poo and paper”
“If you have to use an alternative, then put it in the bin rather than flushing it down the toilet!”
Helen also mentioned a host of “unflushable” strange items that have turned up in sewers, contributing to severe blockages.
She added: “We have found all sorts in sewers. All kinds of things: false teeth, children’s toys, a stash of stolen car radios — you name it.”
Wet wipes have been the biggest culprit in creating fatbergs, as 90 per cent contain plastic which causes major blockages.
Northumbrian Water found that last year, wet wipes were the cause of nearly two thirds of the 15,600 blockages in the sewers.
These often occurred in the sewer pipes of households, rather than further down in the system.
And Wessex Water has warned people not to flush kitchen roll and wet wipes down the loo.
It costs the water company a whopping £5 million a year to resolve the 13,000 blockages a year.
A spokesman told Somerset Live: “Our simple message is if you are using these items, please put them in the bin, rather than flushing them.
“They are designed to stay intact, unlike toilet paper which can break down in the sewers.”
The problem has been particularly bad in Australia, where waste water spills of up to 20,000 litres have been caused by sewage blockages, requiring an expensive clean up.
These will cost Aussie customers $1.4 million a year.
Wondering why wet wipes don't break down if flushed down the loo? Take a look at our shake test below to find out
90% of wet wipes contain plastic which is why they are one of the major blockage culprits in our sewers
RT to help your friends and families #StopTheBlock pic.twitter.com/XWFWINFMlO
— Wessex Water (@wessexwater) March 25, 2020
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