Hidden on the outskirts of Birmingham lies one of Europe's largest sewage treatment facilities, a colossal plant tasked with processing the toilet waste from the city and the neighbouring Black Country.
The Daily Battle Against 'Rag' and 'FOG'
Every day, the waste from approximately 1.8 million residents flows into Severn Trent Water's vast Minworth Waste Water Treatment Works. Yet, amidst the expected effluent, workers face a constant barrage of items that should never enter the sewer network.
The water company urges the public to follow a simple guideline: the 'three P's rule'. The only things that should be flushed are pee, poo, and paper. Common culprits that break this rule include wet wipes, nappies, sanitary products, and cotton buds, collectively known in the industry as 'rag'.
Another major issue is 'FOG' – fat, oil, and grease – often poured down sinks by restaurants and hotels. This congeals into solid blockages. Severn Trent encourages food service establishments to install grease traps, noting there's a financial incentive as the collected substance can be sold for biofuel.
From Toys to Tyres: The Bizarre Blockage Hall of Fame
The consequences of flushing the wrong items are severe, contributing to an estimated 30,000 blockages across the Midlands sewer network each year. However, the reality inside the plant is even stranger than most imagine.
During a visit by BirminghamLive, staff revealed a collection of children's toys, often accidentally dropped down toilets by youngsters. The site has its own unofficial 'toy shop' of retrieved playthings. Other finds included goalkeeping gloves, condoms, and even a dead rat.
Grant Mitchell, 55, Severn Trent's blockage lead, shared more extreme discoveries. "We've had guns and knives which we've passed on to police," he said. "Motorbike parts, lorry tyres, a Christmas tree, a shed. There's been a whole horse before."
The Hidden Cost of a Simple Flush
Mitchell emphasised a crucial point many overlook: "A lot of people don't realise that sewer pipes aren't huge – they're only about the size of a toilet roll. It seems easy to chuck rag down the toilet but you'll end up flooding your own property."
Senior technician Philip Powell, 66, who has worked at the company for 44 years, has witnessed the problem escalate. "When I first started, you never saw as much rag as you do now," he noted, highlighting a growing trend of inappropriate flushing.
The message from the team at the seven-mile-long Minworth site is clear: protecting the vast, hidden network beneath our feet starts with responsible behaviour in every home and business. Sticking to the three P's can prevent environmental harm, costly repairs, and surreal finds in the sewers.
