Fat in sewers 'costing millions'

Yorkshire Water spent �3m last year on removing fat deposits from drains

Millions of pounds is being spent on unblocking Yorkshire's sewers because too many people pour cooking fat down their drains, water chiefs have warned.

Yorkshire Water says the problem is getting worse and has urged people to wait for the fat to harden and bin it.

Last year, the company spent �3m clearing about 5,000 sewer blockages which had been caused by deposits of cooking fat, oil and grease.

Early forecasts indicate the number of blockages in 2008 could top 6,000.

Brian Smith, sewerage optimisation manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "We're asking people to put their sewer on a low fat diet and think before they dispose of fat, oil and grease down the sink or through the dishwasher.

DOS AND DON'TS OF FAT DISPOSAL DO: Scrape plates, pans and utensils before washing Dispose of used fat in a waste bin Use strainers in sink plug holes DON'T: Put cooking oil, fat or grease down the sink or drain Put food scrapings into the sink Pour hot water down the sink to try and dissolve fat

"Fats, oils and grease aren't just bad for your arteries, they're bad for your drains and the sewers serving the community too, as they can cause blockages in the sewer network which can lead to flooding of people's homes and pollution of watercourses.

"It only takes an extra couple of seconds to dispose of products like fat by putting it in the bin, but it will mean that the millions of pounds we currently spend removing these products from the sewers of Yorkshire can be invested elsewhere improving our network and the service we offer."

In addition to concern about blockages, the amount of fat building up in Yorkshire's sewers also paints an unattractive picture of the region's lifestyle, said Mr Smith.

"Our sewers act as a kind of barometer on the health of the region as changes in lifestyle, cooking practices and health and dietary attitudes all impact on how much fat, grease and oil is poured down the sink," he said.

"On the evidence so far, 2008 is looking like it's been an unhealthy year."

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