What are some things you don’t want to put down the drain?

  • Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets! Too often, grease is washed into the plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink, which will stick to the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, the grease can build up and block the entire pipe. Pour grease into a can (an empty coffee can works great). Keep it in the refrigerator so the grease can solidify and then dispose of it in the trash.
  • Use your garbage disposal sparingly! Never use your garbage disposal as a substitute for the trash can. Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal. Be especially careful with pasta, potatoes, and other starchy foods. Starch and water make paste, which can plug pipes. Be even more careful with what goes down the kitchen drain if you don’t have a disposal. Put strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the strainers into the trash for disposal.
  • Never flush baby diapers down the toilet! Even if large objects like this make it to the sewer main (if your lucky!) they can cause blockages in the sewer main, or plug city pumps.
  • Never dump kitty litter down the drain! Many of these products contain clay which will narrow the opening of your sewer pipe. Eventually it may plug your sewer pipe.
  • Use sewer pipe cleaning chemicals carefully and sparingly! Follow label instructions closely to avoid dangerous fumes, skin and eye injury, and pipe and fixture damage. Proper care of your home sewer pipes will decrease the need for chemicals. Fats, Oils, and Grease aren’t just bad for your arteries and your waistline; they’re bad for sewers too.

The maintenance of internal plumbing and sewer services lines is the responsibility of the property owner. The City is responsible for the maintenance of sewer mains only. If sewage is actually flowing into your home through a floor drain, immediately contact the City at 752-1460 because there may be an obstruction in the sewer main.