MILLIONS of us will be enjoying a turkey dinner on Christmas Day this year, but what you do with the leftovers could have serious consequences for your plumbing. One water company alone said it cleared nine million litres of fats, oil and greases from sewers and 28,782 blockages last year, all of which could have been prevented.
![[Incorrect disposal of leftovers could cause serious drainage issues]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/000022309708_XXXLargejpg-JS952337381.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
As everyone gets ready to enjoy the holiday season, Midlands water firm Severn Trent reminded customers to ‘be a binner, not a blocker’. Oil and fat from cooking are often poured down the sink. But when these cool, they solidify, causing blockages, which can cause flooding or overflows, leading to the undesirable task of unblocking a kitchen sink or having to pay someone else to do it.
![[A water company said it cleared 28,782 blockages last year]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/plungingkitchensinkjpg-JS738934424.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And it’s not only a problem for your own sink and pipes, but in the sewers below the ground. Oils and fats poured into the sink become especially problematic when they mix with other items which should be binned, not flushed down the toilet - such as wet wipes, sanitary products and kitchen roll.
These create so-called fatbergs in sewers, causing major problems up and down the country. Grant Mitchell, blockages lead for Severn Trent, said: “Did you know that most waste pipes are only the size of a saucer?. “When it’s cold, it only takes a few wipes and some gravy down the drain to cause a problem.”.
While water companies are responsible for clearing blockages in sewers, any clogged drains within the boundary of a property are the property owner’s responsibility. According to Checkatrade, the cost of unblocking a drain depends on the size of the blockage and the method used.
