Flushable?
Think again...
What we put down our drains and toilets can negatively impact our environment and put our health at risk. Even items labeled "flushable" can clog pipes, tangle pumps and result in messy and costly sewer backups. But educating ourselves and each other, we can avoid expensive and dangerous mistakes while improving our sewer system practices.
Steps we can take...
There are only two items that we should ever flush: human waste and toilet paper. If you cannot avoid purchasing and using items that have been labeled "flushable" throw them away after use rather than putting them into our sewer system.
Preventive measures...
Below is a list of items that are found in municipal water systems that should never be flushed:
- Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc. (even if labeled as "flushable")
- Vitamins, medicines or other pharmaceuticals
- Toilet bowl scrub pads
- Swiffer products
- Napkins (paper or cloth)
- Paper towels
- Dental floss
- Fats, oils, and greases
- Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic materials
- Wash cloths, towels, rags, underwear, or any cloth items
- Band-Aids or dressings
- Plastic bags or wrappers
- Kitty litter (even products labeled as "flushable")
- Cat feces or bagged dog feces
- Fish Gravel
Flushing these items into the sewer system results in increased maintenance costs and potential sewer backups.
Information taken from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District leaflet