South West Water warns of Christmas drain blockages

South West Water has asked customers to dispose of fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) responsibly this Christmas to protect wastewater pipes and prevent sewer blockages.

The water company has said the festive season typically leads to an increase in FOG-related issues, with cooking from Christmas roasts being a significant contributor. When poured down the drain, fats and oils solidify, causing blockages, fatbergs, pollution, and costly repairs.

The company highlighted that 10 million turkeys are consumed across the UK during Christmas, producing approximately 5.6 million litres of fat enough to fill over 18,500 bathtubs. Last year, South West Water cleared 6,400 blockages, with 75 per cent caused by FOGs and wet wipes.

South West Water advises wiping pans with kitchen roll before washing and pouring used oils into containers to cool before binning.

Jay Harris, South West Water’s Director of Wastewater Services, said: “While everyone is tucking into their Christmas dinners, our teams will be out clearing blockages – many of which are entirely preventable. By making small changes, we can protect the environment and ensure our sewers continue to operate smoothly.”

He also reminded households to only flush the "three Ps" — pee, poo, and paper — to keep pipes and sewers functioning properly.

The company estimates that 200,000 wet wipes are flushed daily in the region, further compounding sewer issues. In collaboration with environmental compliance experts ECAS, South West Water has worked with businesses to manage FOG disposal.

This partnership has already stopped over 484,000 litres of FOGs from entering the sewer system in the past 22 months, with efforts set to continue into 2025.

South West Water is encouraging households to make small changes this festive season to ensure a fatberg-free Christmas for all.