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.

New G.

1:44PM PST on Feb 3, 2012

Good to know, thank you.

send a green star

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.

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.

Hartson D.

10:29AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

vermiculture. Feed these wastes to the earth. The worms and other soil flora and fauna will that care of it.

Eternal G.

4:15PM PDT on May 12, 2011

Ta!

KAREN L.

1:24PM PDT on Apr 27, 2011

so much for coffee grounds making your sink smell sweeter...just poured some down the drain but usually they go in my composter

Darla G.

11:54AM PDT on Apr 13, 2011

thanks for the tips. It is surprising the impact of ignorance. My parents raised me to flush just about everything. I started educating myself... and changing everything for years. getting better. Cringed at some of the things I used to do, and that I have been unsuccessful at getting others to change, Maybe some day!

carlee t.

10:08AM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

noted thx

Kim S.

9:33AM PDT on Mar 30, 2011

Great ideas. Thanks for sharing!

Mem H.

1:09AM PDT on Mar 29, 2011

we have a pile of saved partially used tissue papers and serviettes from eating out under our sink and re-use them to wipe off the grease from our pans and plates before washing them or popping them in the dishwasher.