Think before you flush says Irish Water as system gets clogged

“Only the three Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet.”

Those were words of John FitzGerald from Irish Water ahead of scheduled works on wastewater infrastructure in Carrigaline recently. These works were required as a result of a large volume of ragging arriving at the pumping station from the wastewater network, which was impacting normal operations.

Some 120 wheelie bins full of items like wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products has been removed from the Church Road Pumping Station over the past four weeks.

When items like these are flushed down the toilet, they cause problems in our homes, sewers and the marine environment. Always put them in the bin, never down the toilet, Irish Water has said.

John said: “Removing blockages can be a nasty job. Sometimes workers have to enter sewers to remove blockages with shovels or use jetting and suction equipment. This weekend, we will require a sludge tanker onsite to assist with the works.

“Our message is simple; only the three Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. All other items including wet wipes and other sanitary products should go in the bin; even if they are labelled as flushable.

“This will reduce the number of sewer blockages, the risk of flooding to homes and businesses and the risk of pollution in the environment harming wildlife such as fish and birds and associated habitats. We all have a role to play in protecting our beaches, seas and marine life. A small change in our flushing behaviour can make a big difference and will help safeguard our environment,” he concluded.

Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.