What Can We Do to Prevent Fatbergs Building Up in Our Sewers?

Fatbergs sound faintly comic, but the consequences are anything but. These vast, concrete-hard masses of fat, oil, grease and so-called “flushable” wipes are one of the biggest causes of sewer blockages in the UK — leading to flooding, pollution of rivers, expensive clean-ups, and higher water bills for everyone.

The good news? Fatbergs are almost entirely preventable — and prevention starts at home.

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🧈 1. Never Pour Fat, Oil or Grease Down the Sink

When hot, fat looks harmless. Once it cools in the sewer, it solidifies and sticks to pipe walls — acting like glue for everything else.

What to do instead:

• Let fats cool and solidify, then scrape into the food bin

• Wipe greasy pans with kitchen roll before washing

• Collect liquid oil in a jar and dispose of it in household waste or recycling schemes

🟢 If it’s solid at room temperature, it doesn’t belong in the drain.

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🚽 2. Follow the “3 Ps” Rule

Only Pee, Poo and Paper should ever be flushed.

Despite marketing claims, many “flushable” wipes do not break down like toilet paper and are a major component of fatbergs.

Never flush:

• Wet wipes (even biodegradable ones)

• Nappies or sanitary products

• Cotton buds, dental floss or kitchen roll

🟢 If it didn’t come from your body or isn’t toilet paper — bin it.

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🧻 3. Use Fewer Wipes (or None at All)

Wipes are convenient, but hugely damaging. Switching to:

• Reusable cloths

• Toilet paper

• Bidet attachments (increasingly popular and water-efficient)

…can dramatically reduce sewer blockages and household waste.

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🍽️ 4. Fit Sink Strainers

Food scraps can trap grease and contribute to blockages.

• Use plug-hole strainers

• Empty food waste into compost or food bins

• Avoid rinsing plates straight into the sink

Small habit, big impact.

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🏫 5. Spread the Word (Especially to Teenagers!)

Fatbergs thrive on misunderstanding. Schools, households and workplaces all benefit from simple awareness.

A quick reminder in bathrooms or kitchens can save thousands of pounds in repairs downstream.

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🌍 Why This Matters (Beyond Your Sink)

Fatbergs:

• Cause sewage overflows into rivers and seas

• Harm wildlife and water quality

• Cost millions to remove (paid for through water bills)

• Increase carbon emissions from emergency repairs

Preventing them is one of the simplest environmental wins available to households.

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✅ The Bottom Line

Fatbergs aren’t a mystery engineering problem — they’re a behaviour problem.

Bin it. Don’t flush it. Don’t pour it.

Your drains, your rivers, and your future self will thank you.