The sewers of Swindon are becoming blocked by a build-up of used condoms and a water company has now issued a plea to randy residents to stop flushing them down the loo
Randy residents have been warned by a water firm not to flush their used condoms after they blocked sewers in a housing estate. The drainage system in Swindon, Wilts., got bunged up by a build-up of the contraceptives.
Thames Water said condoms flushed down the toilet caused pumping station systems in Tadpole Garden Village to fail. Workers found a significant build-up of condoms as well as wet wipes and fats.
The firm said in a letter to residents: “Recently, the sewage pumping station serving the area has suffered a fault caused by a significant build-up of inappropriate items being flushed into the sewer network.
“These include fats, wet wipes and, in particular condoms, which should never be disposed of via the toilet.
“Flushing these items causes serious problems for the pumps within the sewage pumping station, leading to blockages and mechanical failures. In this recent incident, the build-up also caused our telemetry systems to fail.
“These systems are essential, as they allow us to remotely monitor equipment and respond quickly to any issues.
“When they fail, problems can go undetected for longer, increasing the risk of damage and disruption.”
Photos showed condoms hanging off blocked equipment. The letter said the blockage was “unpleasant, disruptive and potentially harmful”.
Haydon Wick Parish Councillor Vinay Manro also urged locals to dispose of condoms properly. He said: “Thames Water confirmed that pumping station failures in Tadpole have been caused by a build-up of condoms, wet wipes, and fats being flushed into the system.
“These materials do not break down and are damaging critical infrastructure.
“In one recent incident near Tadpole Lane, between Oakhurst Way roundabout and the Swindon & Cricklade Railway bridge, a blockage forced the pumping station to stop operating.
“Tankers had to be brought in to maintain water services to homes.“
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