Public accepts responsibility for fatberg clear-ups

A survey has shown the public believes they have a greater responsibility for clearing up fatbergs than water companies.

The survey released as part of drainage contractor Lanes for Drains’ campaign to raise awareness on the issue found 28 per cent of respondents believe there should be personal responsibility for cleaning up the drainage problems followed by 26 per cent believing councils have a role to play and water companies (19 per cent).

Respondents to the survey cited laziness and lack of education as the major contributing factors to why people persistently flush household products and cooking waste down the drains.

Public awareness of the problem has gained traction in recent years thanks to local and national press as well as television programmes. The survey showed 77 per cent of respondents are familiar with the term fatberg, a sharp rise from 47 per cent in 2017.

Despite this gain, lack of awareness and an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude still ranked highly in the survey as barriers to changing behaviour.

Lanes for Drains is launching a month-long public awareness campaign to address that issue. People are being encouraged to take part in “Unblocktober” to educate people about the perils of flushing oils, foods and hygiene products like wet wipes and sanitary towels.

More than 1000 people have already signed up to “Unblocktober” by committing to make small changes to their kitchen and bathroom habits during October.

The most famous fatberg, which brought the problems of drain and sewer damage to the nation’s attention, was found in Whitechapel in 2017 and weighed 130 tonnes of congealed fats and waste products.

As well as causing severe problems for drains and sewers any foreign objects flushed away can be harmful to marine life.

Earlier this year the Water Resource Centre and Water UK introduced a “fine to flush” certification for wet wipe packaging that will break down in the sewer system and do not contain plastic.