On 15 January 2026, Severn Trent issued a targeted reminder to residents in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, asking them to stop flushing wet wipes and to avoid pouring grease down drains to help prevent sewage blockages and internal flooding in homes.
Grant Mitchell, Blockage Strategy Lead at Severn Trent, said sewers are designed for the ‘three P’s’—pee, poo and paper—and warned that items labelled as ‘flushable’ often do not break down and can cause major blockages in the local pipe network.
The reminder comes as the UK implements a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, with full enforcement in England expected by Spring 2027. Severn Trent teams remove around 2.5 tonnes (two and a half tonnes) of wipes and other non‑flushable items from the network each week to protect local rivers and reduce the risk of street and internal flooding.
Households are encouraged to use dedicated bathroom bins for wipes, nappies and sanitary products, and to scrape cooled kitchen grease into the bin (or use a ‘fat trap’) rather than pouring it down the sink. This community effort is supported by Severn Trent’s wider AMP8 investment programme — a £12.9bn plan for 2025–2030 — alongside targeted, long-term improvements in Derbyshire to boost sewer resilience in areas including Swadlincote.
If you see a blocked drain or a leak in the street you can report it to Severn Trent on 0800 783 4444 (available 24/7). Local outlets such as the Derby Telegraph also regularly report on these issues.
