Severn Trent has issued a warning to residents not to flush fat, oil and grease down the drains amid concerns about fatbergs.
The Coventry-based company has revealed it deals with 50,000 blockages every year, with the majority caused by people putting items they shouldn’t down sinks and toilets.
As well as oils and wet wipes – two major causes of fatbergs – the water company has warned residents not to flush the remains of pumpkins down their toilets as Halloween fast approaches.
Grant Mitchell, fat, oil and grease strategy lead at Severn Trent, said: “Halloween is the time of year when there’s lots of parties and that can mean people paying less attention to what they’re putting down the drain or flushing down the toilet – and that could lead to a frightful mess for everyone in their street.
“This year we’re trying to help people avoid a scare when they find their pipes blocked, with terrible things returning to haunt them in their homes.
“Apart from fats and oils and wet wipes, the remains of pumpkins are an additional headache at this time of year, joining the usual grisly messes we find in the shape of baby wipes and congealed fat that really belong in the bin, not down the drain.
“There’s a simple trick to enjoying a treat this Halloween – don’t flush unsuitable items down the loo or the drain.”
Fatbergs have been a major problem for several water companies in recent years.
Last month, Thames Water installed a “special edition” manhole cover to mark the first anniversary of the discovery of the 130-tonne Whitechapel fatberg, a 250-metre-long blob of fat, oil, grease, nappies, wet wipes and other sanitary products that blocked an east London sewer and took 13 weeks to remove.
Workers were forced to use high powered jets and brute force to clear the “monster” blockage, which hit headlines around the world after it was discovered in September 2017.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced plans in May to help tackle the scourge of wet wipes entering waterways.