Residents in Flint are being urged to dispose of fats, oils and grease responsibly, instead of pouring them down the sink, as part of a campaign launched by Welsh Water, which aims to spread the message that blocked drains are bad for the environment and cause inconvenience.

According to water treatment workers, the build-up of fats in the Flint sewerage network causes regular operational problems at Flint Waste Water Treatment Works.

Steve Willis-Culpitt, unit manager for Welsh Water, said: "Flint is a hotspot for sewerage blockages, which often result in flooding, pollution, odours, overflowing drains, sinks and toilets, and cause great inconvenience and unpleasantness.

"By urging our customers to dispose of cooking waste responsibly, we hope to dramatically reduce the number of blockages in the area, which are caused time and time again by a build up of fat in the area's sewerage network."

Flintshire Council's public protection division is backing the campaign, alongside the Environment Agency, the Consumer Council for Water Wales, and the industry body Water UK.

Representatives from Welsh Water together with the local environmental health officer John Coles, have also visited Cornist Park Primary School to promote the campaign messages to the pupils, and show them that bird food can be made from left over kitchen fats. Diane McCrea, chairman of CCWater Wales, said: "Blocked drains from fats, oil and grease are completely avoidable yet they are also a major cause of sewer flooding.

"We are backing this campaign all the way – anything that reduces the risk of sewer flooding for consumers and businesses, and keeps costs of cleaning drains down has got to be good news."

Chris Mills, director of Environment Agency Wales, said: "Most of us don't give the sewerage system a moment's thought, but if it stops working properly we soon realise how much we rely on it to protect us and our environment.

"We can help it to do its job by protecting it from fats, oils, grease and plastics that clog up the system."

For further information call Welsh Water on 0800 052 0138 or visit www.dwrcymru.com