ALERT: One habit to avoid over Christmas or you run the risk of clogged drains

This Christmas, Clean Coasts and Uisce Éireann have partnered up for the 'Think Before You Pour' campaign to spread awareness on the dangers of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) down the kitchen sink.

The campaign advises that FOG's "can cause serious damage to our homes, our communities, and the environment. FOGs, when poured down the sink, can cause expensive blockages in our home plumbing, pipes and wastewater networks leading to sewage overflows that can pollute our rivers, beaches, and oceans". 

According to a 2024 Uisce Eireann survey, one in ten people very regularly pour FOG's down the sink and 36% regularly pour FGO's down the sink.

Every month, Uisce Éireann clears over 2,000 blockages from the wastewater network – including those stubborn fatbergs. 

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Mary Hussey, Wastewater Regional Operations Senior Manager at Uisce Éireann, said: “This Christmas, let’s reduce the number of blockages that lead to wastewater backups, sewage overflows, and environmental pollution. We all have a role to play in protecting our homes, our communities, and our beautiful natural spaces. So, please, let’s keep our kitchen sinks fat-free – and remember to ‘Think Before You Pour.’ Instead of pouring your cooking oils down the sink, collect them in a heatproof container, let them cool, and then dispose of them in the bin. It’s a simple action that can make a big difference."

This holiday season, we are teaming up with Clean Coasts to urge homes to Think Before You Pour – especially when it comes to Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOGs) from cooking and instead – Cool, Collect and Bin! Find out more here: https://t.co/XzFvMLixJ8@CleanCoasts #ThinkB4UPour

— Uisce Éireann - Irish Water (@IrishWater) December 10, 2024

Patrick Cross, Think Before You Pour Campaign Officer at Clean Coasts, added:
“This Christmas, Clean Coasts is calling on everyone to Think Before You Pour. It’s a small change in your kitchen habits that will have a massive impact on our environment and wastewater systems. Let's work together to protect our drains, rivers, and beaches – all by making a simple effort to dispose of FOGs the right way."