As the curtain falls on the latest series of The Traitors, a new drama is gripping Northern Ireland – and this time, it’s unfolding beneath our feet.
NI Water invites you behind the scenes of a real-life mystery: the relentless battle against the silent culprits known as FOG – fats, oils and grease, and inappropriate items like wet wipes threatening to bring our wastewater system to a standstill.
After months of hidden mischief and messy betrayals, the moment of truth has arrived with NI Water’s big reveal exposing the top 10 towns and cities pouring and flushing FOG and inappropriate items down our drains and causing chaos across our sewers.
NI Water’s Head of Environmental Regulation Angela Halpenny explained: “The drama isn’t just on TV – it’s under our streets. Much like The Traitors, there’s a secret battle underfoot - one where the faithfuls (wise households) quietly protect our sewers, while the traitors (those pouring fats, oils, grease, and flushing inappropriate items such as wipes) risk sabotaging us all. Every time it happens it’s a move that can lead to fatbergs, costly blockages, and even floods in homes and businesses.”
The FOG ‘Traitors’: Northern Ireland’s Top 10 Worst Towns:
|
Town |
Total number of blockages in 2025 |
|
Belfast |
111 |
|
Portadown |
59 |
|
Lurgan |
39 |
|
Dungannon |
38 |
|
Derry~Londonderry |
36 |
|
Lisburn |
32 |
|
Craigavon |
24 |
|
Armagh |
21 |
|
Newtownabbey |
19 |
|
Cookstown |
15 |
Angela continued: “The results are in and the traitors have been revealed, but there’s a plot-twist. The scoreboard also shows some good news: the faithfuls are winning! In 2025, NI Water saw sewer blockages drop below the four-year average, keeping up the trend of fewer fatbergs and cleaner pipes.”
Angela concludes: “The mission continues and the fate of our sewers is in your hands. Will your town be a faithful or a traitor in next year’s report? Join NI Water in the campaign to wipe out blockages for good. Seek out the clues by watching NI Water’s YouTube video, and find out how you can play your part as a faithful by visiting www.niwater.com/bag-it-and-bin-it/ and www.water.org.uk/bin-the-wipe”
How to Win: Simple Steps to Victory
- Bin your FOG: Let fats, oils, and grease cool, then scrape or pour them into a container and pop it in the bin.
- Wipes aren’t flushable: Even ‘flushable’ wipes don’t break down - always bin them.
- Only flush the 3 Ps: pee, poo, and (toilet) paper. Everything else is a traitor move.
- It’s not just a game - it’s your move. Make the right choice and help your community walk away with the prize of a fatberg-free future!
Ends
Notes to editors:
The ultimate roundtable uncloaking NI’s Top 10 FOG Traitors in 2025:
