Yorkshire Water removes two Hull sewer blockages

Yorkshire Water is urging customers in Hull to consider the impact what they flush down the toilet may have on the sewer network after a blockage in Bransholme prevented the sewer network from flowing normally.

Yorkshire Water’s team spent three hours removing wet wipes and sanitary items from the sewer and returning it to normal operation. Residents nearby were provided with information on what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet

Miles Cameron, regional operations manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Hull is something of a hotspot for blockages caused by wet wipes, unflushables and foreign objects in the sewer. We’re urging people to really consider what they flush down the toilet and pour down the drains so we can reduce the number of blockages we deal with in the area.

“Only the three 3Ps – pee, poo and paper – should be flushed down the toilet. Many wet wipes and sanitary items contain plastic and do not break down in the sewer as toilet paper does. These items can then group together and restrict the flows of wastewater to treatment works. In the worst cases, these blockages can lead to people being unable to use their toilets, sewage escaping the network onto roads and paths, or even pollution of local watercourses.”

Yorkshire Water is also urging people to discuss what should and shouldn’t go into the sewers with their children, after a child’s toy caused a significant blockage in the Boothferry area of the city. It took four hours to remove the toy and clear the backlog within the sewer.

Miles added: “Clearly this toy wasn’t flushed into the network but may have been thrown into an open manhole during a building project. We would encourage people to speak with their children and explain the problems toys and other foreign objects can cause in the sewer. We find children engage really well with education around the sewers and what happens to the waste once it leave their home and we continue to offer education sessions to schools in the area about all our operations.”