Just because it fits into the drain hole, doesn’t mean it should be flushed down it. Far too often, items find their way into toilets and drains and cause an adverse effect on our home’s plumbing system and sewage tanks. These items also end up in our city or town’s wastewater treatment plants and aquatic habitats. If you want to avoid these adverse effects, please follow some simple guidelines of what not to flush or put down the drains.
Hygiene Products
One of our plumber’s friends once told us “those tampon boxes lie.” Even though it may seem like an easier way to dispose of them, they often clog many toilets. If you are lucky enough to get it to flush, they can still damage the equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. While tampons are most common, many hygiene products are flushed without consideration. It has been recommended that you do not flush the following products, as they were not designed for pipes or sewage systems:
- Tampons, sanitary pads
- Condoms
- Wipes
- Cotton swabs
- Dental floss
- Paper towels
Pharmaceuticals
Keeping old medicine in the house is dangerous, especially if there are children in the home. However, flushing drugs is extremely bad for your sewer system and the environment. Drug and medicinal dumping is finding its way into today’s sewage and wastewater treatment centers, which poses a serious health risks to others.
Remember, just because something says it can be put down the drain or flushed, doesn’t mean it should! Additionally, just because an item may fit through your drains, doesn’t mean that that is the proper way to dispose of the item. These items may make it out of your home and thus out of your sight, but they will still end up in your community, and in turn, find their way back to you in some form or other. If you are unsure of how to dispose of an item, check with your local wastewater management center.
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