Winchester sewer overflows after blockage cause by fat build-up (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Winchester sewer overflows after blockage cause by fat build-up

4:09pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News

Winchester sewer overflows after blockage cause by fat build-up

SOUTHERN Water has urged Winchester residents to avoid pouring fat down the sink after waste burst through a city manhole.

The manhole in Southgate Street overflowed last Thursday (Oct 11) afternoon at around 3.30pm due to a build-up of fat which blocked the sewer.

Southern Water officials were on the scene on Thursday but were unable to remove the blockage due to its severity. They returned on Friday, working with heavy jet equipment. A spokesman said: “We’d like to thank customers for alerting us to this problem, which was caused by a build-up of fat in the sewer that led to a blockage.

“Fat, oil and grease can be extremely harmful to the sewer system and Southern Water has an ongoing campaign to encourage people not to pour it down the plughole.

The spokesman added: “More than 75 per cent of sewer blockages are caused by a build up of fat, oil or grease which can get into the system via sinks, drains or dishwashers.

“Over time, this hardens to form a concrete-like material that can block the entire pipe and cause flooding as sewage is forced to escape through manholes and into streets and rivers or, even worse, into homes.”

Southern Water also confirmed they were investigating the source of the blockage.

The body advises residents to pour fat into containers and dispose of it with household rubbish once it has hardened.

For more details visit southernwater.co.uk/bagitbinit.