Southern Water launched its first ever prosecution in November against a restaurant in East Grinstead, Sussex, for blocking sewers with fat, oil and grease( FOG).

Southern Water investigators found clogged manholes flooding local roads and discharging into a surface water drain. The restaurant was consequently fined £1,473 and ordered to pay £812 legal costs.

Southern Water's Network Protection and Enforcement Officer Stephen Williams led the investigation. He said: “This ‘first’ prosecution is important as it shows that we will protect our customers and the environment. We have the authority to do this through the courts and we will take that action where necessary.”

Fat offenders

According to the water company, Kent is the South East’s worst offender for pouring fat, oil and grease (FOG) down the sink. This year Southern Water has had to deal with more than 1,170 blockages in the county as a result of people pouring the wrong things down the sink.

Sussex was the second worst FOG offender in terms of blockages, followed by Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

Kent had a total of 1,178 blockages, followed by Sussex with 855, Hampshire with 825 and the Isle of Wight with 64.

The number of FOG related blockages across the South East is increasing every year and while FOG may not appear harmful, as it enters the cold sewers it cools quickly, congeals and forms into a concrete like material.

Clearing the blockages is costing millions of pounds – money that the water company said could be saved on customers’ bills.