An appeal has been issued to people in Derry to refrain from flushing baby and cleansing wipes down toilets due to concerns over blocked drains.

SDLP councillor Shauna Cusack has expressed her concern at the frequency of drains and manholes experiencing blockages and overflowing sewage on public areas.

Cllr Cusack stated: "This has been happening regularly in certain streets in my area, regardless of weather conditions. Obviously this is very concerning not only because of the unsightly and unsanitary waste, but also the impact this will have should there be adverse weather.

"NI Water have recently confirmed that these particular blockages are a direct result of a build up of non biodegradable wipes such as baby and cleansing wipes being flushed down toilets in the vicinity.

"I would appeal to the public to dispose of these wipes responsibly and remember the mantra 'Bin not Swim'.

"Given the devastation of the recent floods we should all be much more conscious of the little things we persistently do which can contribute to a larger problem for everyone. The public should also be aware that if such blockages occur within their property footprint and found to originate from there, NI Water advise that they will not be responsible for dealing with the incident as it will be a private matter."

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