Why it matters: The disposal of cooking fats during the festive period can lead to flooding in homes and streets. According to Anglian Water, 80% of these blockages could be prevented through different disposal methods.
The big picture: The water company estimates more than one million turkeys will be eaten in their region over Christmas, with each producing about three-quarters of a pint of fat. This equates to around 250 tonnes of fat – comparable to one million blocks of butter – potentially entering the drainage system.
How it works: Fat poured down sinks as a warm liquid cools and hardens in pipes, coating sewer walls and restricting water flow. The company says this combines with other incorrectly disposed items like wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products, leading to blockages.
What they're saying: "On average, we clear one blockage once every 15 minutes due to the amount of fats, oils and greases that find their way into our region's sewers," says Molly McKie from Anglian Water. She adds that if flooding occurs on private property, homeowners could face repair costs.
What's new: The company reports installing more than 32,000 new monitors in parts of their sewer network they consider vulnerable, particularly in pipes prone to blockages.
The bottom line: While blockages and flooding remain a concern during the festive period, residents can prevent issues by disposing of cooking waste in bins rather than down drains.
