Irish water provide the advice below to avoid blocked drains. See more at Think Before You Flush and Think Before You Pour.
Contents
Think before you flush the loo
Change what you flush down the toilet and keep your drains and pipes clear of blockages.

What to flush
The three Ps – pee, poo and paper.
What to bin
Anything else. This includes medicine, wipes, sanitary products, nappies, cotton pads and buds.
Who this helps
Your plumbing and drains, public sewers, wildlife, our rivers and beaches.
Think before you pour
Pouring liquid fat, oil or grease down the kitchen drain may seem harmless. That’s until they cool and solidify inside your pipes causing smells and blockages! A significant amount of all sewer flooding is caused by the build up of fat, oil and grease in pipes.

What to pour
Water only
What to bin
Any excess or left over fat and grease from food preparation or cooking. Here are some ways to get this into your bin.
- Let it cool first then scrape it into the bin
- Pour it into a non-recyclable container and throw it in the bin
- Wipe it with kitchen paper and throw it in the bin
- Reuse cooking oil by letting it cool and then pouring it into a glass container for storage
- Even better, if you have a brown compost bin put the fats and grease in there!
Who this helps
- Your plumbing and drains, public sewers, and Irish Water sewer cleaning and maintenance team.
Drains
Never pour motor oil, paint or other waste down your drains. This is because many drains flow into rivers and coastal waters. Dispose of these items as instructed on the container, or by contacting your local recycling centre.
Who is responsible for wastewater issues?
- Irish Water is responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the public sewer network
- Householders / property owners are responsible for their internal plumbing and the private side pipework leading up to the sewer mains