Don't flush and forget it

Most people give very little thought to waste water once it has left their home or business. With a little more care and thought about how we dispose of our waste we can greatly improve the effectiveness of our drainage and sewer systems.

Below is a list of practical things to prevent this happening:

• Don't flush rags, cotton buds, sanitary products, nappies, plastic or similar materials down the toilet - put this waste in the bin
• Medical items like needles and syringes should be placed in special Sharps bins
• Don't push kitchen food waste down the sink - put it on a compost heap or in the dustbin
• Grease and cooking fats should not be poured down the sink - allow fats to solidify and then dispose of them in the dustbin
• Keep unwanted oil in a metal can and take it to a recycling centre for safe disposal

Below is a list of the worst offenders of sewer blockages and flooding, the 'Dirty Dozen' that are routinely disposed of down the toilet and clog up sewers, pumping stations and sewage treatment works across the South West.