News from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
6th August 2009
Welsh Water gets tough with ‘The Dirty Dozen’
Company’s spoof western tackles sewer problem
Welsh Water is launching an initiative at this year’s National Eisteddfod to encourage the public to help reduce the risk of pollution and sewage flooding of homes.
The company is enlisting the help of Welsh teenagers to promote its ‘Dirty Dozen’ campaign. The aim is to make people aware of the top 12 items that are flushed down the toilet and cause blockages of public and private sewers. These often result in pollution of streams and rivers, overflowing toilets in homes and sometimes a big bill for householders who may have to pay for clearing their household waste pipes.
Welsh Water is promoting the ‘Dirty Dozen’ campaign with a spoof cowboy film, starring pupils of Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg, Church Village, near Pontypridd. Its star is 16 year old Jay Worley, who acts the part of a tough sheriff determined to put a stop to the Dirty Dozen – helped by five fellow pupils. The film, set in an old style wild west saloon bar, is being shown on the large screens at the Maes.
The company has also produced a range of posters, leaflets and stickers which are being used on the Maes. They are also available to download from Welsh Water’s website, www.dwrcymru.com.
Helen Smith, Welsh Water’s media relations manager who devised the campaign, said, “Blocked sewers are a major problem that cost millions of pounds a year to clear. They result in misery to householders when toilets overflow and can pollute water courses. Many of the blockages are the result of people using their toilets as bins, flushing away inappropriate objects.
“This is a long standing problem and we’ve decided to tackle it in a different way. Our Dirty Dozen film is a fun approach to a serious subject and we hope that young people watching it will take the information on board – and spread the message. We know that many will be telling their friends about it via social media such as Facebook.”
Mrs Smith added that the Dirty Dozen posters and stickers had been widely used on the Maes.
Welsh Water is upgrading its sewerage network, much of which dates back 50 years and more. The work is phased to minimise disruption and to keep customers’ bills reasonable. It is estimated that replacing all old sewer pipes immediately could cost as much as £10,000 per household.
“The demand on the system has increased greatly in recent years due to urbanisation and the amount of rain water running off roofs and roadways straight into sewers,” Mrs Smith continued. “Most old sewer pipes are only four inches in diameter, so they can easily get blocked by a build up even small items such as cotton buds and wet wipes. They definitely can’t cope with objects such as nappies – which people sometimes try to flush away.”
Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, said, “I welcome this novel approach to tackling a serious environmental problem. Sewage flooding from blocked sewers can have a devastating effect on our natural environment and homes, and this entertaining film and campaign explains how we can reduce the risk. Targeting younger people with this message will help to raise awareness, so in the long term people think about how their individual actions impact the environment.”
The Initiative is also being supported by Keep Wales Tidy. Chief Executive Tegryn Jones said, “We fully support Welsh Water’s effort to encourage people to dispose of waste properly, and not flush it away. Apart from damaging streams and rivers some small items such as cotton buds end up as litter on our beautiful beaches. Bins are for waste – not toilets.”
The Dirty Dozen items not to flush are:
• Condoms and femidoms
• Tampons and applicators
• Razor blades
• Cotton buds
• Syringes and needles
• Facial cleansing and cleaning wipes
• Bandages and plasters
• Incontinence pads
• Disposable nappies
• Plastic bags and wrappers
• Sanitary towels, panty liners and backing strips
• Disposable toilet brushes
To see the Dirty Dozen film log on to www.dwrcymru.com
Welsh Water is a not-for-profit company with the sole objective of providing top quality services for its customers. Welsh Water does not have shareholders, and any profits made are reinvested in the business for the benefit of customers, as well as for returning to customers as ‘dividends’. The customer dividend for 2009/10 is £22 for each customer receiving both water and wastewater services.
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