NI Water teams tackling a fatberg on the Shankill Road
After the dramatic ending of the latest series of The Traitors, Northern Ireland Water is highlighting a new drama gripping Northern Ireland – one that’s unfolding beneath our feet.
After months of hidden mischief and messy betrayals, NI Water has revealed the top 10 towns and cities pouring and flushing FOG (fats, oils, and grease) and inappropriate items down our drains, causing chaos across our sewers.
NI Water’s Head of Environmental Regulation Angela Halpenny explained: “The drama isn’t just on TV – it’s under our streets. Much like The Traitors, there’s a secret battle underfoot – one where the faithfuls (wise households) quietly protect our sewers, while the traitors (those pouring fats, oils, grease, and flushing inappropriate items such as wipes) risk sabotaging us all. Every time it happens it’s a move that can lead to fatbergs, costly blockages, and even floods in homes and businesses.”
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In 2025, there were a total of 602 sewer blockages in Northern Ireland, while in 2024 there were 646. The four-year rolling average is 840 sewer blockages per year.
Angela continued: “The results are in and the traitors have been revealed, but there’s a plot-twist. The scoreboard also shows some good news: the faithfuls are winning! In 2025, NI Water saw sewer blockages drop below the four-year average, keeping up the trend of fewer fatbergs and cleaner pipes.”
Northern Ireland’s 10 worst areas for sewer blockages in 2025:Belfast – 111 blockagesPortadown – 59 blockagesLurgan – 39 blockagesDungannon – 38 blockagesDerry – 36 blockagesLisburn – 32 blockagesCraigavon – 24 blockagesArmagh – 21 blockagesNewtownabbey – 19 blockagesCookstown – 15 blockagesHow to avoid sewer blockagesBin your FOG: Let fats, oils, and grease cool, then scrape or pour them into a container and pop it in the bin.Wipes aren’t flushable: Even ‘flushable’ wipes don’t break down – always bin them.Only flush the 3 Ps: pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.
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