A plank of Wood and a Mop Join Forces with the ‘Dirty Dozen’ Gang in Holywood

01 October 2013 14:59

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ gang has recently hired two accomplices to wreak havoc on NI Water’s sewer system at Holywood, in the form of a plank of wood and a mop!
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ are the twelve most common items the public flush and dump down our sewers.  The ring leader is the innocent looking Baby Wipe, closely followed by Sanitary Towel.  These ordinary household items head a gang of everyday products that cause mayhem with the sewer system when flushed down the toilet or dumped in the sewers.
Gary Little, part of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ team set up to combat the growing threat to our sewers, explains:
“We are literally fighting a daily battle to clear blocked sewers at a cost of over £1.7 million to NI Water every year.
“The ‘Dirty Dozen’ on their own cause enough damage to the sewers without the added risk of planks of wood or mops! Not only do these items get stuck in the sewer, they prevent wastewater from flowing freely to the treatment works for process. This in turn results in the sewer backing up and spilling out.  
A new tanker and state of the art CCTV equipment has been purchased and a ‘dirty dozen’ team has been set up to tackle blockages caused by this notorious gang and the sidekicks they hire.
Gary continues, “The new team and equipment NI Water has invested in, at a cost of £250K enables us to respond quickly to reports of blockages in a timely and cost efficient manner.  
“However, we will never win this battle on our own.  We need the support of the public to work with us to dispose of these items in the bin rather than down the sewer.  Together we can beat the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and keep our sewers running freely!”