Total of 456 blockages in Banbridge sewers

NI Water recently visited Parliament Buildings at Stormont to enlist the support of elected representatives in appealing to the public to help keep the sewers clear this Spring as it cost around £68,400 to clear these blockages.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ are the twelve most common items the public flush and dump down our sewers, often without thinking.

The ring leader of the gang is the innocent looking ‘Baby Wipe’, closely followed by the ‘Sanitary Towel’.

A spokesperson for NI Water said: “These ordinary household items head a gang of everyday products that cause mayhem with the sewer system when flushed down the toilet or dumped in the sewers.

“Help us keep the sewers clear and free from blockages by not flushing your baby wipes, cotton buds or nappies and avoid the need for your plunger and our resources.

“Together we can beat the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and keep our sewers running freely!”

The full list of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ items which you should not flush is: disposable nappies, Bandages or plasters, tampons or applicators, razor baldes, condoms or femidoms, waste wrappers, syringes or needles, cleaning wipes, cotton buds, sanitary towels/panty liners/incontinence pads, facial/baby wipes and cotton wool.

More information can be found at www.niwater.com.