The water companies are working with the supermarkets to give away around 250,000 fat traps and funnels to people collecting their pre-ordered Christmas turkeys in an attempt to prevent them from pouring fats, oils and grease down the drain, where they can cool and create blockages.
Blocked drains rise by 25 per cent during the festive season, with more than 1,000 tonnes of leftover cooking fat poured down sinks.
There are approximately 200,000 sewer blockages throughout the UK every year, of which up to 75 per cent are caused by fats, oils and grease, and approximately £15 million is spent annually on clearing the blockages.
The companies involved are: Thames Water; Anglian Water; Northumbrian Water; United Utilities; Southern Water; Yorkshire Water; Scottish Water; Welsh Water; Northern Ireland Water; Severn Trent Water; and South West Water.
Water UK director of environment Sarah Mukherjee said: “If customers pick up and use their fat traps, it will really help to lighten the load on the system over Christmas and the New Year.”
Waitrose head of sustainability Quentin Clark added: “Fat in the sewers is a big problem, particularly at this time of year. What we are giving away is no more than a small box but we hope it will make a big difference.”