Wipe Out – 15.5 million wet wipe users flush them down the toilet causing millions of pounds of damage

New research by Thames Water¹ reveals 15.5 million (44 per cent) wet wipe users flush them down the toilet, with more than one in six (16 per cent) doing so daily and a further 16 per cent of users doing it at least once a week.

Flushing wet wipes down the toilet, even those labelled as ‘flushable’ or ‘biodegradable’, can cause pipe or sewer blockages and harm marine life.

By the end of August 2027, the sale of plastic wet wipes will have been prohibited across the whole of the UK. The ban aims to protect rivers, lakes and beaches from pollution, while reducing sewer blockages and flooding. However, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of people are unaware that a ban is coming into force and a further 21 per cent are unsure of the details.

Over four in ten (42%) people who admit to flushing wet wipes say they do so because they are described as ‘flushable,’ with a quarter (26 per cent) doing so because they claim to be ‘biodegradable.’  Despite these positive sounding claims these wipes can still cause serious issues as they are designed to break down over an extended period, potentially several months, and in a sewer system they can easily cause blockages or harm wildlife while they decompose.

Thames Water estimates 3.8 billion wet wipes are flushed into its sewer network every year. These wipes are a major cause of sewer damage and cause significant blockages especially when they combine with fat, oil and grease to create fatbergs.

Last year 95% of all sewer floods were caused by blockages. Thames Water alone clears over 75,000 blockages annually, costing around £40 million to repair and clear damaged pipes. Wet wipes should never be flushed down the toilet they should be disposed of in the bin. Over a third of users (35 per cent) rarely or never check the packaging for disposal information regarding wet wipes. One in ten people think wet wipes labelled as biodegradable pose no risk to the sewer system, despite them being a major cause of blockages.

Tessa Fayers, Director of Waste and Bioresources at Thames Water, said:

“Every day, wet wipes cause harm across our network.  Blockages made up of wet wipes are the leading cause of pollution in our rivers and flooding in our homes and gardens.  Even when wipes don’t immediately block pipes, they travel through the sewer network to our treatment works, where they are removed and taken to landfill.  

"Everyday choices can make a big difference and we can all play a part in reducing the harmful effects of wet wipes.  Today, we are encouraging everyone to only flush the three Ps, pee, poo and paper, and ensure wipes go in the bin.  Let’s #WipeoutWipes together!”

To find out more information about the Bin it Don’t Block is campaign visit - Bin it | Blockages | Help and advice | Thames Water.