New research by Thames Water 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.
Almost two-thirds of people are unaware that in 2027 the sale of plastic wet wipes will have been banned across the UK - Thames Water estimates 3.8 billion wipes are flushed into its sewer network every year.
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 the positive sounding claims, the water company says thes 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, causing sewer damage and 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.
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.”
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