Most sewer blockages can be avoided if drains and sewers are only used for their intended purpose instead of general waste disposal. Every year, South West Water spends over £1million to clear blockages.

To tackle this problem, South West Water has introduced the Good Neighbour Award for catering businesses which dispose of fat, oil, grease (FOG) and other waste responsibly.

Staff from South West Water will work with businesses to reduce blockages in the sewer network by offering advice on the best way to dispose of waste.

A member of our sewage team will visit each business to determine where there are areas for improvement. They will offer advice and recommendations to make improvements and reduce the chance of causing blockages in the sewer, which may cause flooding for their neighbours.

A free audit will be carried out at this time, and at subsequent visits to record progress. As a result, if standards are met, a Good Neighbour Award certificate will be awarded.

Did you know?

If you dispose of fat, oil, grease (FOG) or other waste down your drain, you could face expensive plumbing bills to unblock them.

You could also be prosecuted under Section 111 of the Water Industry Act for illegally discharging waste into a public sewer that is likely to damage the sewer, interfere with the free flow of its contents or affect the treatment and disposal of its contents.