Don't Flush Wet Wipes

Manufacturers are unfortunately marketing wet wipes as flushable, but in fact these products cause blockages in the sewerage network and, at times, sewage flooding inside homes. If you haven't suffered this, just imagine what it is like to have smelly water coming up the plug in the kitchen, or in the bath, or the toilet overflowing - not only disgusting but unhygienic.

And it's not just wet wipes. People are also flushing other inappropriate items down the toilet (or in some cases down the kitchen sink) and if they don't experience any problems, they don't realise they are causing problems for other people.

So the following items should be disposed of (appropriately wrapped if needed) in household refuse bins.

• Wet wipes
• Disposable nappies and incontinence pads
• Women's sanitary products (pads and tampons) - and condoms
• Cooking fat (mop up with kitchen roll and wrap before putting in the bin)

Wessex Water deals with around 1,000 blockages a month, many caused by flushing the wrong items down the toilet or put down the sink. Even if the items make it as far as the sewage treatment works, it still has a huge impact. All this can be avoided if the items are put in the bin instead.

Update 2016: Freshu is an antibacterial foam that can be applied to toilet tissue as an alternative to wet wipes, while fat traps (e.g. http://lessmess.co.uk/ and http://www.fat-trap.co.uk/) collect cooking fat.

Wessex Water has written to all leading supermarkets in the UK and manufacturers to raise concerns by the water companies and customers about problems caused by 'flushable' products.

Wessex Water Magazine Autumn/Winter 2013