Maintaining a well-functioning sewer system is crucial for public health, environmental protection, and the overall well-being of a community.

While many people may not give much thought to what goes down the drain, it is essential to raise awareness about the importance of responsible sewer system management, and drain cleaning contractors can play a part.

Here’s a look at the significance of public education in maintaining the integrity of sewer systems and the items about it you should be highlighting for your customers.

The importance of public education

Effective sewer system management begins with educating individuals about proper waste disposal. Public education empowers citizens to make informed choices and encourages responsible behavior. By disseminating vital information, communities can reduce the incidence of clogged pipes, sewage spills, and costly repairs.

The consequences of not properly managing sewer systems can be significant, leading to environmental degradation and public health hazards. Overflowing sewage can contaminate water bodies, affecting aquatic life and posing health risks for both humans and animals. Moreover, clogged pipes and blockages can cause sewage backups, leading to unpleasant odors, property damage, and unsanitary conditions.

Items to avoid flushing

While toilets may seem like convenient disposal units, flushing certain materials down the drain can lead to dire consequences for sewer systems. It is essential to educate the public on specific items that should never be flushed down the drain, including the following:

Wipes: Although many wipes are marketed as "flushable," they do not disintegrate as quickly as toilet paper. Consequently, wipes often accumulate in sewer systems, leading to massive clogs and blockages. Municipalities around the world are grappling with the consequences of this misunderstanding, with wipes causing significant maintenance issues and incurring substantial costs.

Educating the public on the difference between toilet paper and wipes is crucial. Toilet paper is specifically designed to dissolve easily in water, while wipes are not. Encouraging individuals to dispose of wipes in the trash, even if labeled "flushable," is essential for the efficient functioning of sewer systems.

Baby wipes: Plush, durable, and often infused with lotions, baby wipes pose a significant risk to sewer systems. These wipes, despite their small size, do not dissolve easily and can quickly overwhelm pipes, causing blockages and requiring costly repairs. Furthermore, excessive wipes in the sewage system can lead to reduced flow capacity, increased maintenance needs, and potential health risks.

To avoid these issues, public education should emphasize proper disposal methods for baby wipes, such as wrapping used wipes in tissue and disposing of them in the garbage rather than flushing them down the toilet. Baby wipes, despite their adorable packaging, wreak havoc on sewer systems. In 2017, London faced a colossal "fatberg" composed of baby wipes, congealed grease, and other non-dissolvable materials. The fatberg, weighing as much as 11 double-decker buses and stretching over 250 meters, caused extensive damage to the sewer system and took weeks of intensive removal efforts costing millions of pounds.

The accumulation of baby wipes in wastewater systems can disrupt the hydraulic flow, leading to increased maintenance requirements and reduced system reliability. It is essential to educate parents and caregivers about the proper disposal of baby wipes to prevent such occurrences and reduce the burden on sewer infrastructure.

Prescription drugs: Flushing unused or expired prescription drugs down the toilet pollutes waterways and poses health risks to aquatic life and humans. The active compounds in pharmaceuticals can impact the ecosystem, disrupting the hormone systems of fish and other organisms, affecting reproduction, and potentially entering the human water supply.

Public education should focus on educating individuals about the importance of proper medication disposal. Encouraging the use of drug take-back programs, community collection events, or pharmacies equipped with drug disposal kiosks helps prevent pharmaceuticals from entering wastewater systems and safeguard both the environment and public health.

Food grease: Disposing of food grease down the drain is a common mistake made by many. While it may be a convenient way to get rid of oily waste, grease causes significant problems in sewer systems. As grease cools, it solidifies and accumulates within the sewers, forming fatbergs. These solid masses can obstruct sewage flow, leading to severe issues and potential backups in both residential and municipal sewer systems.

Proper education on grease disposal is crucial for preventing fatbergs. Individuals should be encouraged to pour cooled grease into designated containers and dispose of them as directed by local waste management guidelines. Solidifying grease before disposal by mixing it with absorbent materials, such as coffee grounds or cat litter, can also help.

About the Author

Anthony Pacilla is a registered master plumber for McVehil Plumbing in Washington, Pennsylvania. He has over two decades of experience in the plumbing and HVAC trades and has a bachelor’s in business and economics from Thiel College.