Sewermens’ musical warning of festive blockages in West Sussex

Southern Water’s singing sewermen have hit a new low to herald the festive holidays with their third Christmas carol ‘We Three Ps’ by performing it in a sewer.
Southern Water sing their christmas carol 'We Three Ps' in Brightons sewers. 
Picture by Darren Cool of ConnorsSouthern Water sing their christmas carol 'We Three Ps' in Brightons sewers. 
Picture by Darren Cool of Connors
Southern Water sing their christmas carol 'We Three Ps' in Brightons sewers. Picture by Darren Cool of Connors

A modern take on the traditional carol We Three Kings, the song encourages people to help avoid blockages by only flushing the Three Ps down their toilets – pee, poo and paper.

So far this year there have been more than 11,000 blockages on Southern Water’s sewer network caused by items such as wet wipes and sanitary products being flushed away instead of being put in a bin, including 163 in Horsham and 43 in Pulborough. Blockages can cause people’s homes and gardens to flood with wastewater.

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Filmed deep underground in Brighton’s Victorian sewers, the song also warns of the perils of pouring cooking oils down sinks – which also leads to problems in the pipes.

It can be viewed on Southern Water’s YouTube channel.

The sewermen, who again received the vocal support of members of the Southern Water choir, were joined by Bruce the sewer monster – Southern Water’s mascot for its Pain in the Drain campaign.

Bruce, who was found at a wastewater pumping station after having apparently been stuffed down a drain, is proving popular on Twitter where he tweets wacky toilet tales and photos of weird loos and nasty blockages. You can follow Bruce on Twitter – @MrBruceMonster.

Singing sewerman Stuart Slark said: “I’ve seen some strange things in these sewers but a choir singing with a fluffy orange monster, a woman wearing a dress made of wet wipes and a giant poo is definitely a first.

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“To help keep weird stuff like this out of the sewers, only flush the Three Ps – pee, poo and paper – everything else should go in the bin.”

To watch the song, and sing along with the lyrics at the bottom of the screen, visit The Southern Water You Tube page.