Published Tuesday, 20 December 2011
While 'Sewerface' (simply some kind of trick of the light) isn't a problem on the blockages score, many of the items dumped down toilets and sewers do cause nightmares for NI Water.
"Many people genuinely don't realise the damage they are doing - not only to their own internal pipes, but also to the sewerage system they share with their neighbours - when they flush inappropriate items," NI Water's Head of Networks Sewage, Des Nevin, said.
"Nor do those dumping rubbish into sewers realise the consequences of such actions.
"It's only when faced with blocked drains and out-of-sewer flooding that they realise those 'harmless baby wipes' and dumping that carpet do in fact create chaos!"
NI Water spends in the region of £1.5m each year on clearing blocked sewers and says that could be better spent improving services for the public.
"To help the system work properly, we need to use it responsibly," Mr Nevin added.
"Whilst NI Water has a responsibility for the sewerage system, everyone in Northern Ireland has a duty to dispose of their waste appropriately."