Don't let festive fats, oil and grease steel your Christmas

United Utilities is reminding people across the North West to keep the festive leftovers out of the drains, and straight in the bin to avoid a Christmas catastrophe.

Christmas is a busy time for cooking, entertaining and celebrating with loved ones, but while it’s tempting to whizz through the washing up so you can sit down and enjoy the Christmas specials, leftover dinner washed down the sink can create nasty blockages in waste pipes and drains.

Last year, United Utilities dealt with more than 2,000 avoidable blockages caused by the build-up of fats, oils and grease (FOG). Many more blockages and even flooding inside properties will have been dealt with by homeowners or private plumbers.

Wastewater Network Protection Manager at United Utilities, Andy Peet explained: “On average, a Christmas Day lunch contains a whopping 190g of fat, with leftover grease in pans from roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and the moreish brandy cream - even the famous family gravy recipe can contain fats and oils that shouldn’t be going down the sink.

“When FOG ends up down the drain, it congeals and solidifies to form fatbergs mixing with food scraps and other products such as flushed wet wipes. Over time, fatbergs build up until they block the pipes completely. This can cause sewer flooding in homes and gardens, and it’s important to remember that if the issue is on private property, you may need the services of an emergency plumber to clear it. Not what you need when the finale of Gavin and Stacey is about to start!”

It's estimated that around £10million a year is spent by United Utilities on clearing blocked sewer pipes and drains, while 60% of blockages can be prevented by making small changes to what gets flushed or poured down drains at home.

Andy added: “The good news is that a drain disaster can be avoided. People can make sure their Christmas celebrations don’t end up resembling a visit from the gravy Grinch by taking a few easy steps:

• Use a sink strainer over the plughole to catch leftover food waste
• Let cooking oils and grease cool down before scraping them into the bin
• Scrape leftover food from plates and dishes before putting them in the washing up bowl or dishwasher.”

For more ways to Stop the Block! visit: www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support/wastewater-services/stop-the-block/