A foreign object in a drain refers to any non-flushable item that has been intentionally or accidentally introduced into the drainage system, including small toys, jewellery, mobile phones, cleaning cloths, building debris and mineral builders' waste. The object lodges at a bend, junction or constriction and catches paper, wipes and other material, leading to recurring blockages downstream. The issue is particularly common in family households, refurbishment projects and properties undergoing tenant changeover. Engineers usually identify the obstruction by carrying out a CCTV drain survey, then recover the object using retrieval rods, mini grabs or, where possible, jetting it through to an accessible chamber. In rare cases, a localised excavation under BS EN 1610 is needed where the item cannot be moved or retrieved by other means.
Foreign object in drain
Non-flushable item lodged in a drain, such as a toy, jewellery, cloth or building debris.
