The company, which manages 13,000 blockages annually on its public sewer network, says most are caused by wet wipes.
Tuesday, May 19, marked exactly one year until a ban on selling wet wipes made from plastic comes into force in England.
Wessex Water has warned that wrongly flushed wet wipes are causing sewage blockages and pollution across the region. (Image: YTL UK/Wessex Water)
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A spokesman for Wessex Water said: “We’ve long called for plastic wet wipes to be banned and others to be labelled more responsibly because, unlike toilet paper, they don’t break down quickly after being flushed.
“Even if it says ‘flushable’ on the packaging, wet wipes really belong in the bin.
“Like sanitary products, they often contain plastic and lead to blockages that harm the environment and can lead to sewage backing up into properties.
“So remember, only flush the three Ps (paper, poo and pee) to help avoid the misery and expense of sewage in your home.”
Wet wipes that end up in the sewer system are one of the leading causes of fatbergs that clog up sewers and lead to flooding in houses, gardens and businesses.
Improper disposal also threatens wildlife by polluting rivers and seas with long-lasting plastic waste.
For more advice, visit the Wessex Water website.
