Wet wipes causing sewer blockages



Thames water report that an estimated 3.8 billion wet wipes are flushed into their sewer system annually (2026). They clear over 100 wipe-related blockages every day.  They have recently introduced a new tool called a hedgehog which are metal pipes  covered in spikes that catch wipes as the pass along the sewer helping to locate the source. Hedgehogs are of different sizes to match the sewer diameter. Surveys are followed up by a local education programme encouraging people not to flush wipes but to bin them.  Unlike toilet paper the wipes do not break up in the sewer but cause blockages which lead to the formation of fatbergs.  The campaign reduces the local disposal of wet wipes by toilet flushing by between 50-70%. 

More at:

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/news/2026/aug/hedgehog-customer-awareness-campaign-cuts-flushed-wipes-by-almost-two-thirds

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