Fat’s disgusting

NI Water in warning after sewer blocked by bags

NI Water was forced to issue a warning yesterday after a “fatberg” wreaked havoc with the sewers.

Workers were called out to reports of flooding in North Belfast this week and were shocked by what they found.

Numerous black bags filled with rubbish were also pulled up and bosses said it not only showed a lack of respect for the network but also the community.

NI Water’s Stephanie Mccullagh said: “We would remind all our customers that opening a manhole and putting anything down it is forbidden.

“By doing this, you are obstructing a working sewer which is designed to take waste away from homes.

“Incidents like this cause out-ofsewer flooding and require valuable time and resources to resolve.

“Blockages and out-of-sewer flooding are extremely unpleasant and affects the whole community.

“We have all seen the disgusting effects of an overflowing manhole in the street and no one wants to see or smell it but the reality is, it happens regularly at a cost of millions to NI Water each year.

“Taking simple measures and only flushing the 3Ps – paper, poo and pee, will help alleviate the avoidable problem of blocked sewers.”

No one wants to see it or smell it but it happens regularly STEPHANIE MCCULLAGH NI WATER YESTERDAY

BERG-ER TIME Blocked drain in North Belfast

FLOODY MESS Rubbish from sewer

DIRTY WORK NI Water staff at scene