More than £10m spent clearing sewage blocks caused by wet wipes, tampons and fats

More than £10.5m was spent clearing sewage blockages caused by wet wipes, sanitary products and fats, oils, and grease in Scotland last year.

Scottish Water said more than 35,000 sewers had to be cleared across Scotland in 2024, costing £300 each time.

There have already been 27,217 blockages so far this year, and the council areas with the most choked systems have been revealed.

A blocked sewer surrounded by wet wipes and sewer-related debris. Scottish Water

Fife Council topped the list with 2,322, followed by Glasgow with 2,304, the Highlands with 1,970, Edinburgh with 1,918, North Lanarkshire with 1,568 and South Lanarkshire with 1,560.

The water company said over 80% are caused by the wrong things being flushed down the toilet or poured down sinks.

“Please, please do not flush wipes and sanitary products down the toilet or pour fats or oils down the sink,” Garry Kirkwood, Scottish Water’s sewer response customer manager, said.

“Your actions in the home have a very real impact on people in your communities, on the environment and on our staff members who have to deal with the resulting issues.

“Clearing chokes caused by wet wipes, sanitary products and fats, oils and grease that have combined to create a horrible mess is time-consuming, unpleasant for those who are affected by them, and ultimately costly – we spend more than £7 million a year clearing sewer blockages that are largely avoidable.”

The reminder comes as Scottish Water said increased downpours from climate change puts extra pressure on water and sewer systems.

Mr Kirkwood added: “We need our sewerage system to be working at its most efficient to reduce the risk of flooding to our customers.”

Scottish Water has asked customers to only flush pee, poo and toilet paper. It said everything else, including wipes, should go in the bin.

For kitchen waste, such as fats, oils and grease, there is advice on the Scottish Water website for customers on how to deal with these, so they don’t end up down the sink clogging sewer pipes.