Keep it out of the drain, what not to flush
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The Ricewood Municipal Utility District’s Board of Directors is conscious of maintenance costs incurred by the District. Clogged pipes cause major problems in wastewater treatment facilities that are expensive to repair. They may also cause home plumbing issues. Residents can help maintain a working sanitary sewer system by being mindful of what they put down the drain or flush down the toilet.
The following items should NOT be put down the drain or flushed:
- Feminine hygiene products:
- Items such as tampons and feminine pads are absorbent and increase in size after exposure to water in the pipes. This causes clogs in plumbing and the District’s sewer system. These items should be disposed of in a wastebasket.
- “Flushable” sanitary wipes and baby wipes:
- Despite being labeled as flushable by the manufacturer, these products may clump up in the pipes and cause clogs. Instead of flushing these items, keep a waste receptacle by the toilet for disposal.
- Cotton swabs such as “Q-tips”:
- These items include stiff cardboard or plastic stems in the middle which can clog pipes. Also, if they do make it to a wastewater treatment plant, they must be removed from the water and hauled to a proper trash facility. This creates an extra cost for your District.
- Children’s or adult diapers:
- Whether cloth or disposable, infant and adult diapers should never be disposed of in the toilet. They are too large to fit through the plumbing of your home and cause blockages in District pipes that take wastewater to treatment plants.
- Cotton balls and paper towels:
- These items are too bulky to fit through the pipes and will cause plumbing obstructions.
- Cigarette butts:
- Cigarette butts build up over time causing clogs and accumulate with other solid waste that should not have been flushed. These items must be hauled away to a trash facility, costing your District additional expense.
- Cooking grease:
- While hot cooking grease may seem easy to pour down the kitchen sink, it cools quickly once exposed to plumbing. Congealed grease can build up over time and create clogs.
- Condoms and other prophylactics:
- These items may cause clogs in the system and if they make it to a wastewater treatment facility, will have to be hauled to a proper trash disposal plant, increasing costs to your District.
Essentially, only wastewater and human waste should go down the drain or be flushed. Your help in adhering to these guidelines is greatly appreciated and will save your District unnecessary expenses.