53

Wet wipes and other ‘unflushables’ are a major constituent of sewer blockages.

Conclusion
Wet wipes and other ‘unflushables’ are a major constituent of sewer blockages. Many householders are unaware that flushing anything other than the ‘3Ps’ (‘pee, poo and paper’) risks blocking sewers and could lead to a pollution incident. Better product labelling, introducing producer responsibility schemes and the use of behavioural science by water companies all have the potential to reduce blockages and the costs of clearing them.
Paragraph Reference
264
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The Guiding Principles for Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans, published in February 2022, require water companies to work collaboratively with other Risk Management Authorities in developing solutions to drainage issues.
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.4 yrs
Report published 13 Jan 2022