Toilet paper blocks drains

[wilfred]

Our L. has just had the sewage drain unblocked and was given a report stating the tenant’s toilet paper caused the blockage. We have been informed if this happens again they will charge the tenants for the bill. We have now been instructed not to put toilet paper down the toilet but to put it in a bag each time we visit the toilet and dispose of it ourselves separately. We have used the same toilet paper for years and this has never happened before. Does the L have the right to charge the T’s for the bill and does it not breach some sanitation law not to throw your used toilet paper down the lavatory?

[mind the gap]

Our L. has just had the sewage drain unblocked and was given a report stating the tenant’s toilet paper caused the blockage. We have been informed if this happens again they will charge the tenants for the bill. We have now been instructed not to put toilet paper down the toilet but to put it in a bag each time we visit the toilet and dispose of it ourselves separately. We have used the same toilet paper for years and this has never happened before. Does the L have the right to charge the T’s for the bill and does it not breach some sanitation law not to throw your used toilet paper down the lavatory?

It is completely unacceptable for the LL to insist that you dispose of your used toilet paper yourselves and not flush it down the toilet. It is indeed a health risk. Tell your LL that you do not wish to spread disease by following his instruction and that if he mentions it again, you will contact the EHO who will 'mark his card' and the HMO licensing dept of the council for good measure. LLs like that should have their HMO licences revoked, in my view.

It is of course possible that the plumber is correct and that you are blocking the toilet by overuse of toilet paper. Perhaps all the people using the same system (how many are there?) should agree to be less wasteful with the stuff.

However, if you are being sensible about this and only usual small amounts at a time, it is possible that the system is old and the flush less effective than it should be. If it happens again it would be worth asking the LL to get the whole system looked at to see what is going wrong.

Is this just one house we are talking about, or a number of flats sharing the same drains? At what point was the soil pipe blocked?

[Bel]

Utterly daft.

[Rodent1]

I dread my sister in law visiting because she always uses ridiculous amounts of toilet paper, 4 trips by her and the roll is gone - this has been going on for years.
This has been brought to her attention many times but to no avail !


Back to the point, I have an 8 let which blocks up approx once avery 12 m, NOT because of tissue, but condoms, towels and tampons, and wet wipes.

On vic sewers these catch and build up pretty quickly - i have yet to charge them to unblock the pipes - 'cos i is a nice guy, we have notices up in both the toilets which they actually now seem to pay attention now to !

It is a student house and rolls over every 1-2 years - it only usually happens once per set of tenants.

I would re-consider exactly what is meant by "tenant’s toilet paper" as tissue in sensible quantities is absolutely fine - if it is not then LL needs to investigate further.

[wilfred]

Thanks for your replies. In response to all your questions,
Only 3 tenants in the property
All been there for more than ten years
First time sewer drain has ever been blocked
Victorian house with original sewer and pipes
The blockage took place just as it goes under the ground into the sewer.

[mind the gap]

I dread my sister in law visiting because she always uses ridiculous amounts of toilet paper, 4 trips by her and the roll is gone - this has been going on for years.
This has been brought to her attention many times but to no avail !

Be firm, but fair. Assert your natural authority as head of the house. Remove all the loo rolls before she arrives and tell her she will have to ask you for her ration before she uses the loo each time. Four sheets of triple-ply is more than enough. It's the only way with people like that!

[Rodent1]

Be firm, but fair. Assert your natural authority as head of the house. Remove all the loo rolls before she arrives and tell her she will have to ask you for her ration before she uses the loo each time. Four sheets of triple-ply is more than enough. It's the only way with people like that!


My favorite trick used to be doing exactly that, even Mrs R had words with her (you can't believe how much of the damn stuff she uses !) When we got nearly to the end of a roll i used to put a new one in and keep the nearly finished ones [3-6 sheets left !]in the cupboard, ready to re-load for when she came to visit !

I only did it a few times as she gotty pissy about it, I had to agree to disagree about 6 year ago when one of the many 'deals' i had was a rather large consignment of toilet paper 8 pallets of the stuff.
I wrapped up a wholesale pack[72 rolls IIRC] and gave it to her for xmas - this didn't go down very well at all - she doesn't have the best sense of humor, so since then we just try to leave what is on the roll and remove new packets :eek:

[mind the gap]

My favorite trick used to be doing exactly that, even Mrs R had words with her (you can't believe how much of the damn stuff she uses !) When we got nearly to the end of a roll i used to put a new one in and keep the nearly finished ones [3-6 sheets left !]in the cupboard, ready to re-load for when she came to visit !

I only did it a few times as she gotty pissy about it, I had to agree to disagree about 6 year ago when one of the many 'deals' i had was a rather large consignment of toilet paper 8 pallets of the stuff.
I wrapped up a wholesale pack[72 rolls IIRC] and gave it to her for xmas - this didn't go down very well at all - she doesn't have the best sense of humor, so since then we just try to leave what is on the roll and remove new packets :eek:
She got pissy? You may care to re-phrase that.

This made me laugh. Mainly the thought of you scurrying about hiding fag-ends of loo rolls in cupboards, but also the thought of her face when she twigged what you were up to. I love the 72 pack Christmas present.

Put up a sign by the toilet:

The use of more than three sheets of toilet roll at any flushing will cause this toilet to block and expel its contents in a volcano-like eruption back up the pan and into the room. Please be frugal in your usage.

On a different but related tack : a teenager visited us recently who declined milk with his breakfast cereal, so I offered him some yogurt. He accepted (albeit with no great enthusiasm) and I fetched a new massive-size (one pint) pot of the Greek stuff out of the fridge and a spoon, and passed it to him to spoon some onto his Weetabix or whatever. Next thing I knew, he had tipped the entire pot into his bowl and eaten the lot! Is this normal?

[Rodent1]

She got pissy? You may care to re-phrase that.
Nope !


This made me laugh. Mainly the thought of you scurrying about hiding fag-ends of loo rolls in cupboards, but also the thought of her face when she twigged what you were up to. I love the 72 pack Christmas present.


Unlike our new member friend easily amused she was not amused


Put up a sign by the toilet:

The use of more than three sheets of toilet roll at any flushing will cause this toilet to block and expel its contents in a volcano-like eruption back up the pan and into the room. Please be frugal in your usage.


It would have to be laminated with sharp edges to deter it from being used for the obvious !



On a different but related tack : a teenager visited us recently who declined milk with his breakfast cereal, so I offered him some yogurt. He accepted (albeit with no great enthusiasm) and I fetched a new massive-size (one pint) pot of the Greek stuff out of the fridge and a spoon, and passed it to him to spoon some onto his Weetabix or whatever. Next thing I knew, he had tipped the entire pot into his bowl and eaten the lot! Is this normal?

Hmm ...perhaps I will leave a packet of weetabix in the corner of the loo.


The Teenager
Clearly a non-veggie in a veggie household, who was trying to integrate into the culture of the householder :D

[mind the gap]

The Teenager
Clearly a non-veggie in a veggie household, who was trying to integrate into the culture of the householder :D

Wrong, I'm afraid. It's only me + daughter who don't eat meat (although she had to dispense with her principles in Rwanda this summer and eat goat meat - I would have had to be very hungry indeed to do that). The rest of the bunch will eat more or less anything that stays still long enough. Their choice.

[GJMSurrey]

Haha made me laugh. Perhaps you could shower in the garden too so as not to get water splashes on the floor.

Tell the landlord you have a right to act in a "tenant like manner" and this includes using the loo in a way that is customary practice. However, you are happy to accept toilet paper brand recommendations.

[Rodent1]

Thanks for your replies. In response to all your questions,
Only 3 tenants in the property
All been there for more than ten years
First time sewer drain has ever been blocked
Victorian house with original sewer and pipes
The blockage took place just as it goes under the ground into the sewer.



If this is accessable tape your arm into a bin bag, insert into pipe and make sure their are no rough edges/lips etc that waste material can get stuck on.

Victorian sewers generally have a vented siphon somewhere on the run which are notorious for collapsing [either partially or fully] which can cause regular blockages.

[mind the gap]

If this is accessable tape your arm into a bin bag, insert into pipe and make sure their are no rough edges/lips etc that waste material can get stuck on.

Victorian sewers generally have a vented siphon somewhere on the run which are notorious for collapsing [either partially or fully] which can cause regular blockages.
Believe him. Rodent is a rat with many years' experience of Victorian sewers :D

[Rodent1]

Believe him. Rodent is a rat with many years' experience of Victorian sewers


Indeed...... ;)

[wilfred]

Thanks everyone.
I suppose as a last resort I could suggest L supply us all with our own natural roman spongia. (Not sure what the plural is for this word) Then we could all send our spongias to L when it needs replacing. After all the bathroom is communal and everything in it comes under L's responsibility! That should make him think twice. I wonder if the Romans ever picked up somebody else's spongia by mistake? Ugh, perish the thought. Mind you I remember the days of cut up newspaper and the solid paper called ZAL, it ripped you to shreads, but it prevented over use of toilet paper. I'm not sure if it's still available today, but then again what type of people use it? See, I've even managed to throw in a tip for all those landlords out there.

[mind the gap]

Thanks everyone.
I suppose as a last resort I could suggest L supply us all with our own natural roman spongia. (Not sure what the plural is for this word) Then we could all send our spongias to L when it needs replacing. After all the bathroom is communal and everything in it comes under L's responsibility! That should make him think twice. I wonder if the Romans ever picked up somebody else's spongia by mistake? Ugh, perish the thought. Mind you I remember the days of cut up newspaper and the solid paper called ZAL, it ripped you to shreads, but it prevented over use of toilet paper. I'm not sure if it's still available today, but then again what type of people use it? See, I've even managed to throw in a tip for all those landlords out there.

Wasn't it called IZal? It was totally useless, whatever its name was. All shiny and painful, as you say. They supplied it in primary school toilets in the West Riding in the late 1960s and I knew kids who would wait all day to go to the loo (ie until they got home) rather than use the stuff!

Roman sponges would indeed be more environmentally friendly in one way but less so in another, so probably not a good suggestion. Actually, I seem to recall (although not from personal experience you understand!), that the sponge-on-a-stick was a communal object anyway (just washed in between uses). I hope you're not having lunch as you read this!

Parents in some countries use moss for babies' nappies, which has to be a bit more eco-friendly than (if not quite so convenient as) plastic-coated disposables, I suppose.

[Rodent1]

I remember the stuff - we used to use it as tracing paper.

[wilfred]

Years ago people were made of tougher stuff, not like today's pampered society, with patterned double luxurious sheeting in every colour of the rainbow etc. After all at the end of the day it's only used for one thing!
You can even get the recycled toilet paper now. Ugh!! I wouldn't want to use someone else's reused toilet paper. That takes us back to my earlier comment on what would happend if a Roman accidently used another Roman's toilet sponge! Apparently they used to march everywhere with them. Where do you hide something like that while you're marching?

[mind the gap]

I remember the stuff - we used to use it as tracing paper.

Wot - in yer cardboard box in t' middle o' road, you mean?

You were lucky!

In our cardboard box, we had to use it as toilet paper, then re-use it as tracing paper.

[mind the gap]

That takes us back to my earlier comment on what would happend if a Roman accidently used another Roman's toilet sponge! See my #16 above


Apparently they used to march everywhere with them. Where do you hide something like that while you're marching? Don't ask.

[wilfred]

That's nothing, during the war with rationing on ,it was re-used as greaseproof paper for baking.

[wilfred]

See, now that's what I call re-cycling!

[Rodent1]

That's nothing, during the war with rationing on ,it was re-used as greaseproof paper for baking.

RE used or just also used ?:eek:

[wilfred]

Well, put it like this, if the Germans had invaded, they wouldn't have known whether it was used or re-used if they came into our cafe, we would have made sure of that!

[Rodent1]

Well, put it like this, if the Germans had invaded, they wouldn't have known whether it was used or re-used if they came into our cafe, we would have made sure of that!

Those were the days - now we have health and safety regs.
Boy, and don't we just :D

[jeffrey]

Returning to the thread's intended topic, perhaps the blockage was not from ordinary toilet paper but the 'wet-wipe' type (e.g. Gemoloids Moist Paper) which- plumbers know- does not biodegrade in the normal way.

[mind the gap]

Returning to the thread's intended topic, perhaps the blockage was not from ordinary toilet paper but the 'wet-wipe' type (e.g. Gemoloids Moist Paper) which- plumbers know- does not biodegrade in the normal way.
Yes! Such products are the devil's own idea.

[Rodent1]

Returning to the thread's intended topic, perhaps the blockage was not from ordinary toilet paper but the 'wet-wipe' type (e.g. Gemoloids Moist Paper) which- plumbers know- does not biodegrade in the normal way.


Wet wipes you mean ?
Yes can cause serious problems see #4

QUOTE=Rodent1;186585]

Back to the point, I have an 8 let which blocks up approx once avery 12 m, NOT because of tissue, but condoms, towels and tampons, and wet wipes.


I would re-consider exactly what is meant by "tenant’s toilet paper" as tissue in sensible quantities is absolutely fine - if it is not then LL needs to investigate further. [/QUOTE]

[wilfred]

Those were the days - now we have health and safety regs.
Boy, and don't we just :D

Who says health and safety exists in food today! What about that story in Australia a few years ago when it was discovered a hotelier served human feces in a bowl of chocolate chipped ice cream! Never did hear the outcome or get to the bottom of that story, other than they were conducting D&H tests. Do you know what, despite this story being factual, something tells me it won’t be too long before the moderator moves this thread to the `Take a break ‘ category!

[mind the gap]

Who says health and safety exists in food today! What about that story in Australia a few years ago when it was discovered a hotelier served human feces in a bowl of chocolate chipped ice cream! Never did hear the outcome or get to the bottom of that story, other than they were conducting D&H tests. Do you know what, despite this story being factual, something tells me it won’t be too long before the moderator moves this thread to the `Take a break ‘ category!

For once, words fail me.

[wilfred]

I'm disappearing now, the wife's just baked me a cake. I think she's making up for the row we had last night!

[jeffrey]

If it's a chocolate cake, I hope that she's not an Australian.

[wilfred]

If it's a chocolate cake, I hope that she's not an Australian.

Oh my, you've got to hand it to old Jeffrey, no one can top that last remark!

[wilfred]

Disgusting, touche`!

[jeffrey]

Perhaps the toilet paper was half-price: bogof?

[mind the gap]

JUst to remind ourselves (and OP's LL) that it is now 2010, not 1910:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8481283.stm

[jeffrey]

It will be 1910 during the Archers tonight, mind. The programme runs from 1902hrs. to 1915hrs.

[mind the gap]

It will be 1910 during the Archers tonight, mind. The programe runs from 1902hrs. to 1915hrs.

Is that what they call a 'mid-Atlantic' spelling, Jeffrey? Somewhere between the English and the American?

Fitting (as that is the best place for 'The Archers' - preferably at least five fathom deep!)

[jeffrey]

No, you must have seen the previous edition of post #37. Was it 'Homepride' that told us how graded grames make finer flour.

[wilfred]

Is that what they call a 'mid-Atlantic' spelling, Jeffrey? Somewhere between the English and the American?

Fitting (as that is the best place for 'The Archers' - preferably at least five fathom deep!)

I have found that it's not just American spelling that is creeping into the English vocabulary but also American diction. For example I am now totally confused as to whether the Brits pronounce the word SHEDule (as in garden shed) or SCHEDULE, which I think is the American pronounciation!

p.s Joe Grundy for PM!

[jeffrey]

I have found that it's not just American spelling that is creeping into the English vocabulary but also American diction. For example I am now totally confused as to whether the Brits pronounce the word SHEDule (as in garden shed) or SCHEDULE, which I think is the American pronounciation!

p.s Joe Grundy for PM!
But who'll be his:
a. LEFTtenant; or
b. LOOtenant?

[wilfred]

JUst to remind ourselves (and OP's LL) that it is now 2010, not 1910:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8481283.stm


I've just logged on to this website. After watching the video I scrolled down and saw the `Wheelie bin doubles as public toilet', report. Your'll never guess what, this report only took place five minutes from where I live!
And what an interesting name Thomas Crapper had, I'm assuming that's where we get the abbreviation of the word from today. Thomas Crapper even managed to get the abbreviation of his name in the Oxford dictionary. Not many people can achieve that in their lifetime.

[wilfred]

And before anyone says it, No it's not Waterloo!

[Snorkerz]

I've just logged on to this website. After watching the video I scrolled down and saw the `Wheelie bin doubles as public toilet', report. Your'll never guess what, this report only took place five minutes from where I live!
And what an interesting name Thomas Crapper had, I'm assuming that's where we get the abbreviation of the word from today. Thomas Crapper even managed to get the abbreviation of his name in the Oxford dictionary. Not many people can achieve that in their lifetime.
Sorry, Crapper was born only 5 years after the first recorded useage of that word. (I watch QI too much!)