Drainage Habits Survey Reveals UK’s Habits and Attitudes On Drainage Usage

We spoke to a total of 1,216 people for the 2019 survey, with the results indicating that awareness of many of the factors that cause drainage-related problems is on the increase:

• 77% of respondents say they have heard of fatbergs, up from 61% in 2018 and 47% in 2017


• Expanding media coverage of the fatberg phenomenon is the main factor in improving awareness levels, with 39% of those polled saying they had heard about fatbergs through national news


• Nearly 62% of those polled said they understood that wet wipes contain hidden plastic content


• When asked about the items that contribute to fatbergs, fat, oils and grease (FOG) was the most common answer (65%), followed by wet wipes, sanitary towels and nappies


• 64% of respondents described themselves as “very aware” of what should and shouldn’t go down the toilet or sink

However, understanding of other key factors remains relatively low:

• Respondents were unaware of the role certain common household items can play in blocking the drains and sewers, with less than 20% of those polled understanding that contact lenses, razor blades and medication can contribute to fatbergs


• 85% of those surveyed had never heard of concretebergs


• Less than 20% specifically identified plastic pollution and damage to buildings and roads as problems associated with fatbergs


• 63% do not know how to properly dispose of cement or household paint, increasing the risk that it will be poured into the drain and contribute to concreteberg formation

Many Brits remain shackled to bad habits that have been proven to cause damage to the drains and sewers and pollution in the oceans and waterways:

• 48% of those polled say they have poured oil and fat down their kitchen sink, which is slightly higher than the 47% who said so in 2017 and 2018, despite the widespread awareness of how harmful this is


• The top three damaging items people admit to having flushed down the toilet are flushable wet wipes, kitchen roll and tampons. 55% said they had flushed some form of wet wipe, and 34% had flushed a tampon; among female respondents, these figures rose to 58% and 46% respectively


• 79% of those surveyed said either they or a tradesperson working in their home had washed paint brushes used for decorating in the sink

However, our respondents also provided some thought-provoking insights into actions that could be taken to help consumers change these habits:

• 40% of those polled watched the BBC documentary Blue Planet II – among these, 57% have reduced the number of plastic bags they use, 52% recycle more, and


• 49% have cut the amount of plastic they buy. This shows the impact that TV programmes like this can have


• Around two-thirds of respondents said teaching primary and secondary school pupils about what not to put down the drain would be a good way of tackling pollution and fatbergs. Meanwhile, 52% called for more TV shows like Blue Planet, and 41% called for an awareness month


• 28% believe that those responsible for creating fatbergs should have to play a part in cleaning them up


• Laziness, convenience and a lack of education were identified as the main barriers to changing behaviour. Proposed solutions included making it easier or cheaper to recycle and dispose of waste; improvements to council refuse collection services; introducing the threat of fines; better education; and clearer information on product packaging


• 66% of respondents said they would be willing to participate in a month-long challenge to change their behaviour and tackle their bad waste disposal habits

Take a look at how our engineers remove blockages from the sewers in this video.

Habits and attitudes that contribute to drainage problems