Severn Trent urges residents to adopt habits like proper waste disposal and water conservation to prevent blockages and save resources
Severn Trent Promotes Daily Habit Changes to Save Water
Severn Trent is encouraging people to change daily habits to protect homes from costly blockages, reduce waste, and save water.
Grant Mitchell, Blockages Lead at Severn Trent, said: “The New Year is the perfect time to refresh and rethink some habits.”
He added, “Simple changes like scraping leftover grease into the bin, collecting cooking oils in a container, and binning wipes instead of flushing them can make a huge difference.”
Mitchell also suggested adding a water-saving resolution. “Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or fixing that dripping tap can save litres every day,” he said.
He concluded, “These small steps help protect your home and the environment, so let’s make 2026 the year of good habits.”
Top Tips from Severn Trent
Severn Trent’s top tips include following the “three Ps”—only flushing pee, poo, and paper—to prevent blockages.
Wipes, cotton buds, and sanitary products should be disposed of in the bin, not the toilet. The water company also urges people to avoid pouring fats, oils, or grease down the sink.
Instead, these should be collected in a container and placed in the bin. Using kitchen roll to soak up grease before washing dishes is also recommended.
Even wipes labelled as “flushable” can cause problems, as they don’t break down like toilet paper. Severn Trent advises keeping a dedicated bathroom bin for wipes and other non-flushable items.
Water-Saving Suggestions
To save water, the company suggests turning off the tap while brushing teeth, which can save up to six litres per minute.
Fixing dripping taps—one drip per second can waste more than 5,000 litres per year—and shortening showers by just one minute are also recommended.
Howard Perry, network operations lead for leakage, said: “Saving water is worthwhile all year round – the less we waste the more reliable your supply is and the lower our bills need to be.”
Perry added, “Fixing leaks around the home, for example, can save hundreds of litres of water a day and can save you hundreds on your water bill.”
Summary of Recommendations
| Action | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Scrape grease into the bin | Prevents blockages |
| Collect cooking oils | Reduces waste |
| Bin wipes and sanitary products | Protects plumbing |
| Turn off tap while brushing teeth | Saves up to 6 litres per minute |
| Fix dripping taps | Prevents waste of over 5,000 litres per year |
| Shorten showers | Conserves water |
