Look after your drains this Christmas
Don't put the wrong thing down the drain
For most of us, Christmas is a time to relax and take it easy, and given how 2020 has gone, our staff are urging customers to put their feet up and enjoy the festive periods. Along with hospitals, doctors, police and the fire service, Anglian Water has staff on call throughout the most wonderful time of the year, ready to respond in case of an emergency.
Anglian's experts were classified as key workers earlier this year, working throughout both lockdowns to keep taps flowing and toilets flushing, and Christmas is no different. The message to Anglian Water customers is to sleep in heavenly peace, relax and enjoy a Christmas without worry as the company's on-call staff have it covered.
While Christmas lunches are devoured, and everyone enjoys their day, staff will be ready in case of any emergencies; giving customers peace of mind and ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.
Andrew Norman, a Water Network Technician said:
"This year has been a hard one for all of us, so the last thing people need on Christmas Day is to have issues with their water. That's why I'll be on standby to respond to any emergencies and ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.
"Being on standby is just part of the job and it's always rewarding to be able to help people in need, especially at this time of year. We're a really dedicated and hard-working team, so we just want to do our bit to ensure our customers have a great day this Christmas."
However, with Christmas comes the inevitable turkey fat and food waste blockages that our teams are called out to over the festive period. Each turkey produces a staggering three-quarters of a pint of fat, and many people end up on the naughty list for wrongfully disposing of it down the kitchen sink, causing blockages in sewers and pipes.
That's why Water Recycling Field Technicians like George Widdowson, are on call over Christmas ready to help customers with blocked drains and sewers.
He said:
"Making sure sewers are kept clear and flowing is vital to make sure there are no unwanted Christmas surprises, so it's important that we continue to provide a service to our customers even on Christmas Day.
"Unfortunately, blockages are a common occurrence, especially at this time of the year, with turkey fat, oils and greases combining in sewers to create fatbergs. These can cause sewage to back up into customers' homes or even the wider environment. Our 3P's - Pee, Poo and Paper - rule is one that applies 365 days a year, and we're always on hand to help should the worst happen."
And if the worst does happen, Anglian's Andrew Saqladi, Amy Wooliscroft and Zoe Harmston - based at its Operational Management Centre in Lincoln - will be on hand to ensure that emergency incidents are taken care of immediately.
Andrew Saqladi, Senior Operations Manager, said:
"Working from our control centre in Lincolnshire gives us visibility of all the work going on across our region. Whether there's a burst in Colchester or a blockage in Norfolk, we will be co-ordinating and managing the team's response to ensure any problems are rectified as quickly as possible."
For those who need additional support at this tough time of year, Anglian's Priority Services Register offers help to a wide range of people - from those with sight, hearing, or mobility difficulties, to parents with babies under 12 months old - should there be any interruption to their water supply. Customers can apply to be added to the register visiting the Anglian Water website.
Anglian Water's customer service teams will also be on hand over the Christmas period to help with any emergencies and keep customers updated. Customers can report water or sewerage issues on our website or through the company's 24/7 emergency line on 03457 145 145.