Where does it go?
Ever wonder where it goes? Down the toilet or the drain isn't the end of the
line. When you flush the water and unmentionables they go somewhere.
Most homes, businesses, industries, and instutional facilities are connected to
a sewer that conveys flushed and drained wastewater to a treatment facility prior
to being released cleanly and safely into the environment. Some things should
never be flushed or sent down the drain because they cause problems Do not
use your toilet as a trash can!
Things that should never be flushed or drained include:
- Paints and Solvents
- Gasoline or Combustible Fuels
- Toxic Chemicals
- Antifreeze
- Medicines and Pharmaceuticals
- Fats, Oils, and Greases
- Baby Wipes
- Needles and Razor Blades
- Pesticides, Herbicides, and Fertilizers
- Poisons including Rat/Mice Bait
Things that we should avoid sending to the sewer include:
- Large amounts of food waste through the disposal
- Substances or objects that could plug a line and cause backups
For more information on how to dispose of household products, please visit:
http://www.wef.org/AboutWater/ForThePublic/FactSheets/FactSheetDocuments/HouseholdWaste.htm
Fat-Free Sewers
Fats, oils, and greases (FOG) aren't just bad for arteries and waistlines;
they're bad
for sewers too. The most common cause of sewer plugging and backups is caused
by FOG. Grease and oil comes from cooking, meat fats, lard, oil, shortening,
butter, margarine, food scraps, baked goods, sauces, and dairy products. If
they are sent down the sink drain they stick to the surfaces of drain piping and
sewers. They can eventually build up to the point of full plugging and then
raw sewage can backup into your home or overflow into the street. You can
help prevent this most unpleasant situation.
- Never pour grease down a drain or into a toilet
- Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids and empty them into the trash can
- Scrape grease and food scraps into a trash can and avoid sending them down the drain or through the food disposal
- Restaurants should all have approved and maintained grease traps
Disposal units do not keep grease out of sewers. Hot water and detergents
that dissolve grease do not prevent a problem, they just move the problem down the
system.
Help Keep Our Drains Drug-Free
Every day the average adult uses nine personal care products that contain 126 unique
compounds that could end up in our water. These include soap, shampoo, toothpaste,
cosmetics, and medicines. These end up in the sewer when we bathe, shower,
and use the bathroom. Analysis has shown the presence of compounds and drugs
from these sources in streams and lakes. While there is no current evidence
that these trace chemicals pose a risk to human health, scientists have found some
interference with aquatic organisims. It is, therefore, prudent to control
what ends up in the water environment.
Please do not flush medications down the toilet! For information on how to
dispose of medicines and prescription drugs visit the following website:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf