NI Water is asking pancake makers of all ages to have fun in the kitchen on Tuesday, but to make sure they don’t unwittingly create any ‘stranger things’ down drains when disposing of their Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG).
To avoid Demogorgon-like monster fatbergs created by (FOG), NI Water’s Environmental Outreach & Learning Officer Anna Killen is reminding cooks and those cleaning up the mess afterwards that FOG belong scraped into the bin and not down the sink.
Anna says: “We hope everyone will slay pancake day, but we also urge them to join in the fight against monster ‘Mind Flayer’ blockages in the wastewater system.
“When fats, oils and grease are put down the plughole and cool, they solidify and create blockages in the sewerage system. That can even result in raw sewage flooding homes and gardens.
“This Pancake Tuesday, help save your town in true Hawkins style by helping to prevent blockages in the wastewater system. This will help keep the upside-down of flooding in check that could end up in your street from overflows out of manholes.
“These effects can be devastating for you and your neighbours and costs NI Water thousands of pounds every year to clear the blockages that occur.
“Some of our sewers date way back to the 1980s – many are even older – and not able to cope with FOG blockages. The advice from NI Water is that when disposing of FOG it is a good idea to let it cool and solidify and then scrape it into the rubbish bin.
“So, remember when you are flipping your pancakes, not to flip the sewers into an upside-down mess by pouring or washing FOG down the sink.”
Meanwhile NI Water is renewing its invitation to young monster slayers to become Sewer Superheros and enter its art competition.
Further information about the NI Water ‘What Lies Beneath’ schools art competition is available online via www.niwater.com/education-and-the-community/resources-for-schools or contact NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen on email education@niwater.com
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