Harborough residents warned: 'Don't put kitchen roll down the toilet'

This has helped trigger over 3,000 blockages and sewer flooding in the last fortnight alone across the Midlands
By Red Williams
Published 3rd Apr 2020, 11:37 BST
Updated 3rd Apr 2020, 11:38 BST
People putting kitchen roll down the toilet has helped trigger over 3,000 blockages and sewer flooding in the last fortnight alone.People putting kitchen roll down the toilet has helped trigger over 3,000 blockages and sewer flooding in the last fortnight alone.
People putting kitchen roll down the toilet has helped trigger over 3,000 blockages and sewer flooding in the last fortnight alone.

People putting kitchen roll down the toilet has helped trigger over 3,000 blockages and sewer flooding in the last fortnight alone.

The mini-crisis has fuelled fears that householders across the Midlands are using kitchen roll amid toilet paper shortages during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Severn Trent is now urging people to stop flushing kitchen roll down the loo.

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Grant Mitchell, sewer blockages lead for Severn Trent, said: “We know just how worrying it is for everyone at the moment and we want to reassure our customers that we’re working hard to keep our essential service running.

“In the last two weeks we’ve dealt with over 3000 reports of sewer flooding or sewer blockages in our area which is much busier than normal.

“And we’re seeing more and more blockages caused by kitchen roll and wipes.”

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He added: “We know that some people are having to resort to using a whole manner of things to substitute for toilet roll at the moment.

“But a sewer blockage is the last thing that anyone needs right now.

“So we wanted to let everyone know that kitchen roll and wipes are not designed to break down like loo roll is so please remember to bin them otherwise you could end up blocking your sewer pipes.

“On top of doing one of the most mucky jobs out there, our teams are getting asked why they’re out and about a lot at the moment.

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“We want to reassure everyone they are only doing work that is essential.

“If more and more sewers need unblocking, they need to be out more, so please be understanding, as no-one really wants to dig out poo, kitchen roll and wipes.”

Grant has now appealed to people to use proper toilet roll only.

“All of this can easily be avoided,” he said.

“So if you do need to use something other than toilet roll, just remember to pop it in the bin, and not the toilet.

“Thank you.”

If you do run into problems, either with slow drains or a blocked sewer which is Severn Trent’s responsibility, it can be reported at stwater.co.uk or by calling 0800 783 4444.

Related topics:HarboroughSevern Trent