A message from Northumbrian Water

Wet wipes are the biggest causes of blockages and sewer flooding, and we really need your help. You can make a massive difference by making one easy change: Bin the Wipe.

Many wipes are made from plastic, which means they don’t break down in water like toilet roll. Our toilets and sewer pipes are not designed for wipes. Even if the wipes aren’t in your toilet bowl, they might get stuck in the pipes near your home, or someone else’s.

Flushed wipes contribute to more than 60% of sewer blockages in the North East: it’s a huge issue.

Flushing the wrong things down the toilet cause huge problems inside customers’ homes, in our communities and our environment.

Wrongly flushed items are a nightmare for everyone as they can cause all sorts of problems inside customers' homes, in the communities we live in and for the environment.

Northumbrian Water is working hard to raise awareness of these issues, so that you know about the problems wet wipes can cause.

What can happen if there’s a blockage in the sewers?

When sewage can’t flow down the sewer pipes because of a blockage, it has to go somewhere else. This could be your street, garden or even back into your home through the toilet, or drains in your bath, sink and shower, flooding your bathroom and home.

The only wipes that can safely be flushed are wipes that have passed the water industry’s standard, ‘Fine to Flush’.

So unless they have the official 'Fine to Flush’ symbol, toilet wipes, baby wipes, make-up wipes and cleaning wipes should all be binned after use - even ones that say they are flushable.

In your area, this is an ongoing problem. You are at risk, unless people stop flushing wipes down the toilet.

Please tell your family, friends and neighbours to Bin the wipe.