HOUSEHOLDS in Teignbridge are being encouraged to help prevent blocked drains.

South West Water is launching its new campaign Bin It, Don’t Block It in a bid to stop avoidable blockages.

In the last year alone, the water company cleared more than 7,000 avoidable blockages with three-quarters caused by just two things: wet wipes and fats.

When flushed or poured away, these combine to form fatbergs which are huge, solid masses that clog up sewers, lead to flooding and pollution, and cause serious damage to the environment.

SWW is appealing for small changes at home to prevent big problems.

In the bathroom, only flush the 3 Ps: pee, poo, and paper. Put wipes, even so-called “flushable” ones, in the bin.

In the kitchen, never pour fats, oils, or grease down the sink.

Instead, let them cool in a container, then put them in the bin. Food scraps and coffee grounds should go in the bin or food caddy too.

Many sewers are surprisingly narrow, some are just 15cm wide.

That means it doesn’t take much for them to block. Just one wipe or a little fat can start a blockage that grows into something much bigger, leading to flooded homes, damaged streets, and polluted rivers

Richard Price, Managing Director of Wastewater Services at South West Water, said: ‘Blocked sewers cause serious harm – from flooding homes and gardens to polluting rivers, beaches and seas.

‘Every wipe flushed down the loo and every bit of fat poured down the sink can trigger a blockage that disrupts lives and damages the environment.

‘That’s why we’re asking everyone to take part in our ‘Bin It, Don’t Block It’ campaign.

‘By making simple changes like putting wipes in the bin and keeping fats out of sinks, we can protect our environment and reduce the risk of flooding.

‘These small, everyday actions really do make a big difference – helping to look after the places we all live in and care about across the South West.’