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Warning from Scottish Water as 'choke squads' clear blocked sewer pipes


By Alan Hendry

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HOUSEHOLDERS across the country are being told to avoid using unsuitable alternatives to toilet paper.

The warning came after Scottish Water teams dealt with more than 1300 blockages in 10 days.

Toilet roll has been one of the basic household items in short supply in many stores during the period of Covid-19 panic buying, but Scottish Water is asking its customers to "do the right thing".

Between March 16 and today (March 30) “choke squads” cleared a total of 1343 blocked sewer pipes across the country.

Scottish Water says its frontline teams are working around the clock to look after the country’s water supplies and wastewater services. However, added pressure is being put on resources by preventable problems – such as toilet and sewer blockages caused by flushing items that are not biodegradable in the same way that loo paper is.

Customers are being asked to help protect the wastewater network by sticking to the so-called "3Ps" guidance and flushing only "pee, poo and toilet paper".

Garry Kirkwood, Scottish Water’s sewer response manager, said: “Products like wipes, kitchen roll, blue roll and others are not designed to break up in the sewer system and risk causing internal flooding to homes, additional health risks and environmental pollution.

“Some of these items simply won’t make it beyond customers’ toilet pipes. Wipes, however, are a major cause of the blocks we see in the sewer network.

“This can be an extremely distressing experience for people and cause significant damage to property. We are calling for the support of our customers to do the right thing and not contribute to avoidable sewer chokes.”

Chocked sewers are causing a problem in parts of Scotland.
Chocked sewers are causing a problem in parts of Scotland.

Scottish Water responds to around 3000 sewer chokes every month. About a billion litres of waste water are treated every day in Scotland.

The wastewater drain which goes from a house to the public sewer is usually only about four inches wide, which is around the diameter of a DVD, and can easily become blocked by a build-up of unflushable materials.

Scottish Water choke squads will currently have minimal direct contact with affected customers in accordance with social distancing guidance.

Householders can learn more by clicking here.


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