Dumping the wrong items down your drains can cause serious damage to your pipes and the public sewer system. Follow these tips to avoid a nasty backup.

Wipes Clog Pipes: Wipes and cleaning cloths, even those labeled “flushable,” don’t decompose when flushed down the drain. Instead they clog home plumbing and the sewer system. Only flush #1, #2, and toilet paper. Everything else goes in the trash!

FOG Alert: Fats, oils, and grease, referred to as FOGs, can also create problems. These are fatty, greasy substances such as butter, cooking oil, salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, coffee grounds, and food scraps. When poured down the drain, they form clumps and harden, which can lead to sewer backups. Instead, dispose of cooled FOGs in a container, like a mason jar or can, and toss it in the trash.

The Fatberg Effect: When wipes and FOGs combine, they become huge clogs called “fatbergs” that can cause breaks in home plumbing systems and our sewer infrastructure. Removing a fatberg is dangerous for our workers and a costly public expense. When they clog your sewer lateral, it’s an expensive repair for the homeowner.

Learn more on our Defend Your Drains webpage.