GREASE: When you pour grease down the drain, it sticks to the inside of your pipes and the pipes in the street. This can cause the entire pipe to become clogged over time, Other oil-based products are also dangerous to pour down your drain, such as cooking oil, salad dressings, butter, mayonnnise and fat. If needed, make sure you let the grease cool first and then dispose of it in the trash instead.
EGGSHELLS: You may think that a crushed up eggshell will go down the drain smoothly, but it actually is causing blockage.
The sharp, hard odges of the shell will collect other things coming down your drain and will eventually cause a clog.
FLOUR: Flour coagulates when mixed with water. This can clog your pipes by coating the edges and catching other bits of disposables tying to make their way down. Always throw your flour, whether mixed with water or not, in the garbage.
MEDICATION: If you flush your unused or expired medication or crush it up and pour it down the drain, those chemicals will be leaked back into pour drinking water and the environment. Always make sure to dispose of unwanted medication at your local pharmacy, which will have access to medical waste disposal units.
PRODUCE STICKERS: Many times people wash their fruit and vegetables and forget to take the stickers off. it falls in the sink and you eventually just let it go down the drain. Peel them off before you wash your fruit and vegetables and dispose of them property, Those little stickers don’t dissolve in water and can clog your pipes and block screens and filters or pumps at the waste water treatment plant.
COFFEE GROUNDS: Coffee grounds build up in your pipes and cause blockage. Plumbers say they are the most common cause of drain problems. You should always deposit of coffee grounds in your trash can or use them for composting.
PRODUCTS CLAIMING TO BE “FLUSHABLE”: Products claiming to be “Flushable” such as certain brands of cat liter and wipes still create a high risk of clogged drains. Cat liter is still highly absorbent after you flush it and toxins from cat feces may get leaked into the water ways and harm fresh water animals. Flushable wipes also don’t break down properly and often get caught on other things creating large clogs in pipes.
CLEANING PRODUCTS: Even though most cleaning products are liquid, they should never be poured down the drain because they contain harmful chemicals. Many contain phosphates, antibacterial agents, and other compounds that aren’t removed at the waste water treatment plant and can be hazardous to the ecosystem
PAPER PRODUCTS: The only paper product that should go down your drain is toiler paper. It has been especially designed 1o break down and disintegrate in water. Always dispose of other paper products such as paper towels, cotton balls, and feminine hygiene products in the trash. These items are extremely absorbent and will easily clog pipes.
EXPANDABLE FOOD: Pasta and rice will expand when mixed with water and can lead to a block. Also, pastas are made with flour, which will become sticky and catch on other things in your pipes.
PAINT: Similar to cleaning products paint should sever be poured down the drain even though it’s a liquid. It has a potential to pollute the environment and cause your drain so clog
PLEASE NOTE: The sewage treatment plant is not designed to treat any fats, oil, and greases. These materials can interfere with the operation of the treatment plant, increase treatment costs, and pass through the treatment plant and pollute the receiving stream. Also, DO NOT connect sump pumps to the sanitary sewer system. If you have a sump pump in sour basement make sure it is not connected to the sanitary sewer system. The Smithfield Sewer Authority has a permit from Pennsylvania DEP for collection, treatment and discharge of treated sanitary wastewater. This permit specifically prohibit collection of clear water or non-sanitary wastewater, such as sump pump discharge or rain water, and requires the Authority to eliminate clear water from the sanitary sewer system. Clear water reduces collection and treatment capacity available for sanitary waste and reduces overall treatment levels, negatively affecting our environment.
THANK YOU FOR YOER CONTINUED DILIGENCE AND COOPERATION, – Smithfield Sewer Authority