Our award-winning ‘Bin The Wipe’ team have now pulled one tonne of wipes out the North East sewer network which equates to over 200,000 unflushable wipes!
The milestone comes three years after the project was launched in 2020 when it was found that 64% of the 15,600 sewer blockages cleared in the North East were caused by wet wipes. At the time of the launch, an ambitious target of reducing blockages by 40% was set. The results show this target is being exceeded year on year in the ‘hot spot’ areas.
Most recently, teams working in North Tyneside saw a 79% reduction in wipes in the hotspot areas and in Washington a 77% reduction was achieved when intervention work was carried out. Since the launch, the teams have reached over 433,000 households, and following a visit, the number of wipes in the network have reduced in the ‘hot spot’ areas by up to 91%. This reduces the chance, and cost of flooding into customers’ homes, as well as having positive impacts on the local environment.
Simon Cyhanko, Head of Wastewater Networks said: “It shows the dedication and professionalism of our Sewerage Maintenance Operatives who are working tirelessly day in and day out to clear our network. By helping people to understand the problems caused by flushing wipes, and the potentially awful consequences, it really opens people’s eyes and inspires change.” The success of the project and the support it has generated from customers, regulators, and stakeholders, including members of parliament, has led to it being adopted by the water and wastewater industry, and the industry body, WaterUK.
This has resulted in a national ‘Bin the Wipe campaign’ which was launched in 2023.