Scottish Water is asking the public to join forces to avoid sewer blockages (chokes), flooding and pollution by consigning wipes to the bin.

Georgina Reid, Scottish Water’s corporate affairs manager in the west said:

“Nationwide our teams deal with around 36,000 blockages a year at a cost to our customers of £7 million.

“The message is clear – please bin the wipes and help us protect the environment. They are the most common cause of pollution at our beaches and watercourses, especially during storms and heavy rain.

“Given the challenges of tackling climate change and how widely wipes are used it is doubly important they are disposed of properly – and that’s in the bin.”

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is backing Scottish Water’s Nature Calls campaign asking Scots to bin wipes, after chokes caused sewage spills at a popular North Lanarkshire wildlife reserve.

Concerned visitors were confronted with wipes and other sewer detritus strewn across a well-used path at the Trust’s Seafar Wood reserve in Cumbernauld and called Scottish Water to attend.

Duncan Clark, Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserves Manager said:

“We manage four wildlife reserves in Cumbernauld which are vital wildlife habitats as well as popular places for people to visit and discover nature.

“We are seeing increasing incidents of manhole covers overflowing with sewage at Seafar Wood in recent months, as well as at our other wildlife reserves in the town.”

Scottish Water is investing £4.5billion in services in the period 2021-2027.

Last year plans for the Urban Water Route map were announced which will see up to £500 million invested to enhance the water system across Scotland.

These will include monitoring at Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO’s) which effectively act as release valves during periods of heavy rain.

Georgina Reid added:

“The sewer systems in many of our towns were originally built by the Victorians around 150 years ago.

“While we work hard to upgrade these and support new developments, everyone can play their part by considering what they don’t flush and don’t put down the sink.”