United Utilities warns against pouring festive leftovers down the drain in Greater Manchester
Fats, oils, and grease could cause blockages and costly Christmas problems
Families in Greater Manchester are being advised to avoid pouring festive leftovers down the sink to prevent unwanted blockages and potential property flooding.
United Utilities has revealed that 490 tonnes of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) - the equivalent of 2,700 reindeer - were prevented from entering the North West drainage network last year. Despite this, the utility company still dealt with over 700 blockages caused by FOG building up in waste pipes and drains.
A typical Christmas dinner contains around 190g of fat, which includes grease from roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and brandy cream.
United Utilities said FOG congeals and solidifies to form fatbergs mixing with food scraps and other products such as flushed wet wipes.
Over time, fatbergs build up until they block the pipes completely, which can cause sewer flooding in homes and gardens.
People are being encouraged to take precautions to prevent costly issues. United Utilities recommends simple steps such as:
- Using a sink strainer over the plughole to catch food waste
- Allowing cooking oils and grease to cool before scraping them into the bin
- Scraping leftover food from plates and dishes before washing them
With Christmas often being a time for cooking, entertaining, and celebrating, people across Greater Manchester are reminded to keep festive waste out of the drains - and straight in the bin - to avoid a messy and costly holiday season.