What Not To Put Down Your Drain

Our trash that goes in the can or recycling is waste we have no choice but to face. Whether it’s hauling the trash cans to the sidewalk, bringing recycling to a center–it’s a mass of garbage that we have to contend with. Liquid waste, on the other hand, simply gets rinsed down the drain and it’s “bye-bye never have to think about you again.” It’s a much more expedient process–one that’s hidden from the eyes of any sanitation departments–and one that can wreak waves of environmental chaos, not to mention what it can do to your pipes. We often don’t realize the harm we are doing by what we rinse down our kitchen sinks, bath and shower drains, and even what we flush down our toilets.

In a study published in 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected and analyzed water samples from 139 streams in 30 states. The goal of the study was to measure concentrations of 95 wastewater-related organic chemicals in water. And guess what? One or more of these chemicals were found in 80 percent of the streams sampled. Half of the streams contained seven or more of these chemicals, and about one-third of the streams contained 10 or more of these chemicals. Pharmaceutical and personal-care products are to blame for many of the chemicals found in the USGS study. Research has shown that there can be effects on aquatic organisms like fish and frogs. Lesson here: don’t flush unwanted prescriptions and try to purchase all-natural personal care products.

But another area of concern is kitchen waste–namely fats, oils and greases which can not only clog pipes, but are terrible for sewage systems. According to the Watership Environment Foundation (WEF), sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. An increasingly common cause of overflows is sewer pipes blocked by grease–this results in raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbor’s home; An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that often must be paid for by you, the homeowner; Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, and streets; Potential contact with disease-causing organisms; and an increase in operation and maintenance costs for local sewer departments, which causes higher sewer bills for customers.

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Read more: Community, Do Good, Environment, Home, Household Hints, Life, drains, sewers, wastewater

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Shae L.

9:55PM PDT on Apr 11, 2013

Good points

April 11
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Duane B.

8:11AM PST on Feb 8, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

February 8
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Debra G.

8:17PM PDT on Jun 28, 2012

Thanks

June 28
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Sheri P.

1:03PM PDT on Jun 20, 2012

oops! i'm guilty of pouring sour milk down the drain before. thanks for the info.

June 20
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New G.

1:44PM PST on Feb 3, 2012

Good to know, thank you.

February 3
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Laurita W.

8:10PM PST on Jan 9, 2012

I like to let things with grease cool so I can scrape the fat off for the chickens. They like any kind of fat, and they don't just convert it to chicken fat! They get everything out of the sink before the dish soap goes in -- don't want them putting soap in my eggs! If it's edible, the chickens get it. I try not to put anything greasy or chunky down the sink, and no bleach or harsh chemicals that will harm my septic system.

January 9
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Mike and Janis B.

11:55AM PST on Dec 2, 2011

We use baking soda and white vinegar to clean all our drains. The fizz it created does a good job of clearing any small clogs. As to fats, we often have some barely used kitchen towel (made from recycled paper of course) on the kitchen counter that soaks up any oily stuff, left by food prep. The more solid stuff is scrapped off and then put in the municipal compost, along with the oily wipes.