Wipes blamed for nearly all sewer blockages

Wipes make up to 93 per cent of material causing sewer blockages, according to a study by Water UK, the trade body for water companies.

There are 300,000 sewage blockages every year at a cost of £100million, it said, and an investigation of 54 blockages found that baby wipes alone made up 75 per cent of blockage material.

The survey found other items such as cosmetic wipes, sanitary towels and nappies were also a major cause of blockages. Rae Stewart, Water UK’S director of corporate affairs, said: “Our sewerage system is just not designed to handle things like baby wipes, which don’t break down in water.”