
They said while fats and grease may be in a liquid form when poured, they quickly cool and harden in pipes. They said the substances combine with wipes, hair, and dental floss to create "fatbergs".
Uisce Éireann has singled out a number of Kildare locations, where it says residents and businesses are causing serious blockages in the wastewater network by dumping fats, oils, grease and even rubble into the system.
The utility says crews in Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth have had to repeatedly intervene to clear sewers clogged with hardened grease and business waste, warning that the practice is putting the entire network under strain by creating so-called "fatbergs".
They said while fats and grease may be in a liquid form when poured, they quickly cool and harden in pipes.
They said the substances combine with wipes, hair, and dental floss to create fatbergs.
The blockages, the utility says, lead to costly repairs, local flooding, and serious environmental damage.
Ger Brady of Uisce Éireann said the responsibility lies with the public:
"During the last few weeks however, we have started to experience a strain on the wastewater infrastructure in parts of Kildare, in particular Leixlip and other large towns, due to large volumes of fats, oils and grease being disposed of incorrectly into our networks," he said.
He added: “We are asking everyone, businesses and residents alike in Kildare, to be very conscious of the impact inappropriate disposal of fats, oils and grease can have on wastewater networks and treatment plants. We urge the public and businesses to continue to ‘Think Before You Pour’ and dispose of trade effluent and other products correctly."
Uisce Éireann insists that while it continues to invest in new treatment plants and sewers, the network cannot cope if residents and businesses persist with bad practices.
The company is urging the public to “Think Before You Pour”.