Ryan Singer
The sewage and wastewater treatment system is the barrier that separates our surrounding ecosystem from waste that our homes and businesses produce. Sewage a “mixture of contaminants containing pathogens, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, debris, nutrients, nitrates, and phosphates…from both domestic and industrial sources”. That is, pretty much anything that we pour down the drain or flush down the toilet. And educating ourselves on what should and shouldn’t be going into our sewer/septic systems helps keep our lakes, rivers, and oceans cleaner from harmful pollution.
Here is a list of common things that are (yet shouldn’t be) flushed, poured, or put into our wastewater treatment system:
- Grains, such as pasta or rice, and flour swell greatly in water and can coagulate to cause blockages in pipes.
- Fruit pits and orange/lemons peels don’t break down in water and are best if composted.
- Bones are not disposed of effectively when scraped into garbage disposals and can splinter or get stuck pipes.
- Eggshells contribute to granular waster, which causes other forms of waste to clump together, causing blockages. Try composting them instead.
- Coffee grounds are the worst when it comes to causing drain blockages. Before rising mugs out with coffee grounds in them, dump it in the trash or compost.
- Fats, oils, and grease should never be disposed of down a drain. This includes all cooking oils, motor oil and other car fluids, cooked/melted fat from meats, salad dressings, and mayonnaise contribute to nearly fifty percent of the sewer overflows across the United States.
- Animal feces and cat litter, not only clog drains but also can attract harmful bacteria and vermin.
- Sanitary Towelettes, Paper Towels, or Flushable Wipes do not dissolve and breakdown the same way toilet paper does in water. Furthermore, after use, they are often covered in human bodily fluids or congealed grease and continue to expand while in water. These often get clogged in wipes and pipes and tangled in pumps, causing damage to wastewater treatment systems and causing cities more money. Just because a product is labeled as flushable, doesn’t mean it should be flushed.
- Hygiene products such as cotton balls/Q-Tips, dental floss, facial tissue, Band-Aids/bandage wrapping, and menstrual products all expand, tangle, and stick to themselves and each other, especially when they are made from plastic, which is not biodegradable.
- Hair, like floss, will form a sort of net and gets tangled in practically everything and does not break down in water.
- Condoms not made of latex will not disintegrate in water. They are best disposed of at waste management centers because of the harmful content of human fluids. If condoms are flushed down the toilet, they can eventually make their way to oceans and be mistaken as food for fish.
- Diapers are often too big to even flush, but if they do, they usually don’t even make it past the u-bend in the toilet. They’re just too large to be flushed and cause problems.
- Gum obviously is very sticky and should not go down the drain
- Cigarette Butts, other than adding the plethora of toxic chemicals contained in them to the water system, they can also cause clogs, and it’s just a huge waste of water.
- Fish, despite popular belief, don’t break down in water can absolutely cause a clog. A proper burial is recommended instead.
- Medication should never be flushed down the toilet. This isn’t so much a clog concern, but rather an environmental one. Sewage systems have complicated biological processes to break down waste and medications can interfere with that. Most medications cannot be removed from the water, so they end up in our lakes, oceans, rivers, and ponds. Drop off all unused/expired medicines at local pharmacies which should have access to chemical/medical waste disposal units.
- Chemicals, such as bleach, paint, sealants, solvents, thinners, cleaning solutions all fall under the toxic/hazardous waste category and can often not be removed from water by treatment systems and can enter and harm ecosystems. Often, more eco-friendly alternatives are available.
Controlling how we manage our waste, including what goes down the drain, fosters a cleaner and healthier environment. Out of sight does not mean out of mind, as dirty waterways diminish the health of people and the environment.
Sources:
Brain, M. “How Sewer and Septic Systems Work.” How Stuff Works. https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/sewer3.htm
Gray, J. “Sustainable Sewage Design.” Sustainable Build, March 3, 2016. http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/sustainabledesignsewage.html
Mason, S., Singer, K., Collins, D. “Fats, Oils, and Grease.” North Charleston Sewer District, 2017. https://www.ncsd.sc.gov/fats-oils-and-grease
Morgan, B. “16 Things You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet.” House Beautiful, June 29, 2018. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/a21992808/what-not-to-flush-down-toilet/
Rinkesh. “25 Things You Should Never Put Down the Drain.” Conserve Energy Future. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/things-you-should-never-put-down-the-drain.php
“10 Things to Never Throw in a Toilet: Don’t Flush That!” Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical. https://happyhiller.com/blog/10-things-to-not-throw-in-toilet/