News

Severn Trent reaches the final straw

18 February 2016

A team from Severn Trent has visited Redgate Animal Sanctuary, in Markfield, Leicestershire, to put an end to the ongoing sewer flooding that it was experiencing.

The animal sanctuary, that is home to cats, dogs, rabbits and even ducks, found that, on occasion, the field where the cattle graze, was becoming flooded and the staff were unsure as to why this was happening.

The staff at the sanctuary got in touch with Severn Trent, which sent a team  to see what could be done to help prevent this problem from continuing.

Emily Cattermole, from Severn Trent, said: “We discovered that the cause of the flooding was a buildup of straw in the sewer pipe, which had resulted in a blockage, so we arranged to have a catch pit fitted, which is a drainage system that collects sewage, preventing future blockages and flooding, so making it a more comfortable environment for the animals.

“We also explained to the staff that sewer pipes are only a few inches wide, so it doesn’t take much for them to get blocked up. The staff were really pleased that we went above and beyond for them and the animals, not only installing the catch pit but also providing them with equipment to be able to maintain it themselves, all free of charge. It’s important to us as a company to keep our sewers clean, so, any way we can, we try to help business help themselves by becoming a bit more sewer savvy."

Paul Collins, from Redgate Animal Sanctuary, commented: “We're a non-profit organisation, so we were really grateful that Severn Trent was able to help us maintain our sewer pipes and keep the animals safe.”

Any customers running into problems, either with slow drains or a blocked sewer (which is Severn Trent’s responsibility), can report it at www.stwater.co.uk or by calling 0800 783 4444.