Southern Water shares fatberg-busting, water-saving and bill-cutting advice with shoppers

Specialist teams from across Southern Water spent time at Southampton’s Westquay shopping centre this month for a day of action on sewer blockages, bill support, and saving water. 

Our community team shared tips and advice on how customers facing financial difficulty can access special discounted tariffs to help them pay their bills, while also sharing information on how reducing water use can help the environment and cut costs. 

Meanwhile, colleagues from Southern Water’s FOG (fat, oil and grease) team spoke to both shoppers and food businesses about the importance of taking extra care what goes down the kitchen sink. 

The team, supported by Thames Water on the day, offered helpful tips on the best way to dispose of grease and oils responsibly – to avoid the possibility of a nasty ‘fatberg’ blockage. 

So far this year, there have been 1,286 sewer blockages in Southampton alone, with 134 of these caused by a buildup of FOG. In Hampshire more widely, there have been 4,065 with FOG causing 346.  

Sewer blockages can result in devastating flooding to the environment, businesses and homes. 

Southern Water’s Network Protection Enforcement Manager, Stephen Williams, said:

“It was great for our FOG and community teams to come together to share some absolutely critical advice with customers and businesses about how we can keep our network flowing, while also supporting people with their bills and water use. 

“Blocked sewers can cause major misery when they end up flooding the environment, homes and businesses, so getting that message out is so important. We were delighted to have the support of Westquay in carrying out our day of action.”