We recently discovered an overflowing manhole cover near to Whiteknights Lake. Our Maintenance team soon discovered the cause of the problem – it was blocked because of items that should not be flushed down the toilet like wet wipes, rags and other things. Although our team were quick to resolve the issue the cost of this incident alone was just over £5,000 and the impact it has on the environment is something we can’t ignore.
While this doesn’t happen often here at the University, it’s a nationwide problem. According to Water Uk, every year around 11 billion wet wipes are flushed down the toilet. This is an issue we cannot ignore as wet wipes are not like toilet paper, they do not break down easily instead they clump together and cause blockage in the pipes. Which is what causes sewage and manhole spillage which leads to costly repair and the worse thing about it is the damage it causes our planet. This is unnecessary waste as 93% of blockage in sewer system is caused by wet wipes.
The financial side is eye-opening, too. The UK water industry spends about £100 million a year just cleaning up the mess caused by flushed wet wipes and other non-flushable items. That’s money that could be better spent elsewhere, like investing in sustainable initiatives. So, what’s the takeaway?
- It’s bad for the environment. When these blockages happen, it doesn’t just mess up our pipes, it also pollutes our local watercourses and harms wildlife. The effluent spill near Whiteknights Lake could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the swift action taken to clean it up.
- It’s costly. Fixing blockages isn’t cheap. The incident near the lake cost thousands of pounds to resolve, and that’s money that could have been better spent on making our campus more sustainable.
- You can help! The solution is simple: please don’t flush wet wipes, tissues, or any non-flushable items. Throw them in the bin instead. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference for our environment and helps save valuable resources.
What we’re doing about it:
To make sure this doesn’t happen again, need to spread the word to all staff and students – please do pass this message onto friends and colleagues encouraging everyone to dispose of their waste responsibly.
Together, we can make a big impact. So, next time you reach for a wet wipe, remember bin it, don’t flush it!
Sabat Azeez, Sustainability, University of Reading
