The great thing about the sewer system is that it makes the things we'd rather not deal with disappear.
But when you flush or drain things the sewer system isn't designed to handle, you risk having to deal with those unmentionables in the form of a sewer back-up or overflow.
You can help prevent clogs in your plumbing and our sewer mains by following this golden rule:
Only flush number one, number two, and toilet tissue. Put everything else in the trash--especially grease and wipes.
Here's why: Wipes and other fibrous materials, even those labeled "flushable,"do not break down easily in the sewer system like toilet paper does. They can get caught in your home's wastewater plumbing and cause a blockage. A bigger problem is the way these materials tangle into massive knots in sewer pump stations. These knots can damage pumps, block pipes, and cause sewer overflows. See the photos below for a look at one of these massive clogs.
Grease also causes problems. When poured down the drain--even with hot water--it cools and hardens. Over time, grease can build up enough to completely block a pipe and cause a sewer back-up.
But I've been flushing things for years with no problems...
All it takes is one experience with a sewer back-up, and you'll think differently. Plus, when you flush wipes, toilet cleaners, feminine products, and other items that belong in the trash, they create problems in pump stations and sewer mains. That ultimately affects everyone in the form of higher maintenance costs, and sewer overflows can negatively affect the environment.
So remember...only flush number one, number two, and toilet tissue!
This massive sewer clog made up of fibrous materials in the sewer system was removed from the pump station at our wastewater treatment plant. Plant staff nicknamed this nasty knot "Cousin Itt."
Workers at our wastewater treatment plant remove part of a massive knot that jammed a pump.
A diver being cleaned after diving into the pump station to help remove the massive clog.