Harborough residents are urged to stop blocking sewers by flushing wet wipes or kitchen roll down the toilet

Water company chiefs are urging people across Harborough not to block sewers by flushing wet wipes or kitchen roll down the toilet.

The plea has been made by Severn Trent as they fear customers will turn to alternatives if besieged stores run out of toilet paper amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The water giant has to tackle a staggering 45,000 sewer blockages across the region.

And some 75 per cent of those are caused by people irresponsibly putting things down their toilets and sinks which they’re not supposed to.

Severn Trent’s sewer blockages lead, Grant Mitchell, said: “We know just how worrying it is for everyone at the moment.

“We want to reassure our customers that we’re working really hard to keep our essential service running as usual.

“Flushing the wrong things down the toilet is probably very low on everyone’s list of priorities right now.

“But by flushing the wrong thing down the toilet, you could end up blocking our sewer pipes.

“And that could cause issues for you, or for your neighbours or out in the street, and no one wants that during this difficult time.

“So we’d just like to remind everyone that anything other than toilet roll shouldn’t be flushed down the loo in case it causes any problems.”

He added: “Sewers are only designed to cope with toilet paper and human waste.

“So some of the things people throw down the toilet, like wet wipes and kitchen roll, can easily snag on the inside of a pipe and block it.

“And, because some of the sewer pipes are only a few inches wide, any fats or oils you throw down your sink can build up on the inside of it, clogging it up – even if you rinse it off with boiling water.

“Then, when a sewer is blocked the waste has to go somewhere.

“This means it usually comes out of a drain and can flood roads, or even your home with sewage.

“And, during times like this, this is the last thing anyone wants.

“But all this can easily be avoided, by people disposing of items in the bin, and not the toilet or sink.”

If you do encounter problems, either with slow drains or a blocked sewer which is Severn Trent’s responsibility, you can seek urgent help at stwater.co.uk or by calling 0800 783 4444.