Sewer & Drain Do’s and Do Not’s

DO

• DO install and maintain a grease pre-treatment system. Pre-treatment systems can include interior grease traps, exterior grease interceptor or bio-treatment, or a combination of these systems.
• DO be cautious of sewer backups. Sewer Backups can cause extensive damage to streets, parking lots, and other structures and can result in thousands of dollars being spent for cleanup.
• DO try to limit use of your garbage disposal to relieve the burden on the sewer plant.
• DO make sure that your gutters are not entering the sewer system. Only your sinks, bathrooms or laundry room should be connected to the sewer.
• DO pour water in floor drains and sinks on a regular basis to keep traps full of water. This will help to prevent foul sewer odors from entering your home.
• DO make sure that you run gutters and downspouts about 10 feet away from your house to eliminate surface water running into your basement and foundation walls.
• DO clean spills up immediately to prevent grease from being discharged to floor drains. Discard the rags in the trash rather than washing.

DON'T

• DON"T ever flush grease or put it down sink drains. Grease that is liquid when you pour it into the drain from your frying pan quickly becomes a stiff, sticky, and insoluble lump inside the pipe.
• DON'T flush chemicals into the wastewater treatment system. Introducing chemical compounds such as drain cleaner, paint, thinners, or other household cleaners result in imbalances at the wastewater treatment plant.
• DON'T use the wastewater system to clean unwanted food from refrigerator or other solid matter. Flushing disposal diapers, items of clothing, dirt, gravel, plants, foodstuffs, or other items that do not quickly dissolve in water can harm the system.