It's important to remember that Your Toilet is Not a Trash Can. When you use the toilet to dispose of things that should go into the trash, you risk clogging your sewer pipes and sewer mains. In severe cases, clogs can cause sewer back-ups in your home and/or business and cause overflows in the street. Only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed. Whatever goes down the toilet can potentially impact the water environment. So, if in doubt, trash it!
"Flushable" Wipes and Grease
Two biggest causes of sewer clogs are "flushable" wipes and fats, oil and grease (FOG). Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down quickly in water, wet wipes remain intact and tangle into massive clogs that jam pumps and blocks sewers. Even those labeled "flushable" should not be flushed.
Grease cools as it travels through pipes. Over time, the accumulation of grease can block pipes, and other fatty substances contribute to clogs. Be sure to dispose of all fats, oils and grease in the trash, not down the drain.
Medications
Wastewater Treatment Plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals. Help keep these compounds out of the water environment and dispose of old medications as recommended by the FDA.
Do Not Flush
- Anything made of plastic
- Aquarium gravel or cat litter
- Baby wipes and diapers
- Cigarette butts
- Disposable toilet brushes
- Grease or oil
- Medications
- Needles
- Paper towels, rags and disposable dust towels
- Tampons and sanitary napkins
- Rubber gloves
- Clothing items
