Scots are being urged not to flush 'toilet paper alternatives' down the pan, as Scottish Water choke squads contend with an increased number of blocked pipes across the country.
As the supply of toilet paper dwindles amid panic buying in response to the coronavirus crisis, more Scots are turning to non-biodegradable options when it comes to their trips to the bathroom.
This has resulted in over 1,300 blocked pipes in just two weeks across the country, as Scottish Water ask people to stick to their simple '3Ps' guidance by only flushing pee, poo and toilet paper, in a bid to ease the pressure on resources.
Garry Kirkwood, Scottish Water’s sewer response manager, said: "Products like wipes, kitchen roll, blue roll and others are not designed to break up in the sewer system and risk causing internal flooding to homes, additional health risks and environmental pollution.
"Some of these items simply won’t make it beyond customers’ toilet pipes. Wipes however are a major cause of the blocks we see in the sewer network.
"This can be an extremely distressing experience for people and cause significant damage to property. We are calling for the support of our customers to do the right thing and not contribute to avoidable sewer chokes."
Scottish Water responds to around 3,000 sewer chokes every month.
The waste water drain which goes from a house to the public sewer is usually only about four inches wide, which is around the diameter of a DVD, and can easily become blocked by a build-up of un-flushable materials.
For more information, you can visit the Scottish Water website HERE.
