Dog bowl, apple and block of butter among odd items found in Severn Trent sewers - The Rugby Observer

Dog bowl, apple and block of butter among odd items found in Severn Trent sewers

Rugby Editorial 26th Feb, 2021   0

A BLOCK of butter, an apple, clothes pegs, a pen, a dog bowl, a pair of scissors and a screwdriver – not a shopping list, but a list of some of the odd items recently found in sewers across the Severn Trent region.

The water supplier has found plenty of other unusual things in the sewers in the past, including false teeth, toys, tennis balls, cutlery and even a motorbike broken down into parts.

Severn Trent’s sewer blockages lead Grant Mitchell said: “Over the last few months we’ve been really puzzled by some of the items that have appeared at our treatment works and can’t help but wonder what people were thinking!”

He stressed the importance of only flushing ‘the three Ps’ – pee, poo and toilet paper – down the toilet.




He added: “The drains that take waste water away from homes are only a few inches wide, and unflushable items such as sanitary products, wipes, or in this case food and household objects, can easily cause a big blockage which isn’t something anyone would wish to experience, especially when it’s entirely preventable.

“Many customers may not realise that they are responsible for the waste pipe running away from their home until it either crosses the property boundary or meets with another waste pipe or sewer. Unblocking or repairing this section of pipe can be costly, but avoidable if you’re careful about what you put down your toilet or your sink.


“So we’d really encourage people to think before they flush.”

Report slow drains or a blocked sewer at www.stwater.co.uk or by calling 0800 783 4444.

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