Did you know that only the “three Ps” should go down your loo? Here’s what you should ? and shouldn’t ? flush away, and why you might be unknowingly causing damage to your pipes.
Sometimes things end up in the wastewater system that shouldn’t be there, and these unwelcome items can wreak havoc on pipes, which can be costly to fix. Thankfully though, they are fixable. Plus, if these pipes break at all and cause water damage, this is also fixable too. Opting for water damage restoration in Draper, or wherever you live, can bring damaged walls, floors, and ceilings back to life and make them safe once again. However, it’s important to note that only the “three Ps” should ever be flushed down the toilet: pee, poo, and toilet paper. Everything else should be disposed of in a rubbish bin which is taken to landfill, or composted if possible.
The main culprits that cause problems (and can cost you a packet in repair bills) are the despicable Rag Monster and nasty Fatberg. These two monstrosities love nothing more than hanging out in your pipes until they are big enough to burst through, causing wastewater overflows that can contaminate the ground or ruin important infrastructure.
A fatberg removed from pipes Yarra, Australia
Rag Monsters are usually made up of wet wipes, sanitary items, nappies, cloth, shampoo bottles and other non-biodegradable material, while Fatbergs are made up of fats and oils poured down the kitchen sink. These items have no place in the wastewater system, and should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain.
If Rag Monsters and Fatbergs manage to make it all the way to the wastewater treatment plant, they end up blocking the filtration screens and have to be removed at the treatment plant – usually by hand (spare a thought for the poor person who has that job).
To protect your home from the terrors of Rag Monsters and Fatbergs (and save money on plumbers’ bills), remember these tips:
- Only flush the three Ps down the toilet (pee, poo, and toilet paper)
- Never pour fats and oils down the drain.
- Place unflushable items into your rubbish or compost heap if possible.
You can help protect your wastewater system and our environment by:
- Knowing where on you property any public wastewater pipes are and making sure access to these pipes are not restricted.
- Making sure trees or shrubs aren’t planted within 1.5 metres of buried wastewater pipes as tree roots can crack and break the pipes.
- Making sure your gutters and down pipes are only connected to stormwater drains. If they are connected to the wastewater system, sewage overflows can occur.
- Never pour motor oil, fuels, solvents or highly toxic substances into the wastewater system.
By: Megan Thomas/Wellington Water
Image at top: Greenopedia
