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Many operate under the belief that if it is labeled “flushable” that it goes down the toilet. Unfortunately, marketing and manufacturers don’t have the same strict standards for what is flushable as wastewater utility processors. From babies throwing items that just don’t belong, to toilet commercials that flush everything but the kitchen sink, there’s more going down the toilet drain than what was meant to. While septic tank maintenance is much more top of mind for diligent homeowners than those with city sewer, it’s important to understand that everyone, even those with public utilities, should carefully watch what is flushed down their toilet.
Labels are not always what they seem.
When it comes to the labels on the products that we purchase, it’s important to ensure that we really understand the how “flushable” a product actually is before flushing it down the toilet. According to wastewater specialists, The industry reference f or dispersability is two-ply toilet paper… [which] starts to break apart when the toilet is flushed and is indistinguishable in the wastewater system in a matter of seconds,” Villée said. Anything labeled as flushable should start to break apart during the f lush and completely disperse within 5 minutes, he added. “Our mantra is, ‘It’s not flushable if it’s not dispersible,’”
Purchase toilet locks for babies and toddlers.
Toilet locks work both ways from a safety perspective. Not only should they keep the baby out of the toilet to prevent drowning, but also prevent babies from throwing things down the toilet. Object permanence is something that babies learn as early as 6 months and watching things “disappear” is a fascination that goes well into toddlerhood. There is no more perfect place to watch things disappear than by flushing them down the toilet. Keep toilet locks on as long as possible to prevent non-dispersable objects from being flushed.
Understand the impact of the “little things”
Even the smallest things like cue-tips and dental floss have an impact on the wastewater treatment and must be removed from systems. While you may not think that such small items will make a difference, with many people operating under the same assumption – thousands of pieces of dental floss, cue-tips, baby wipes and other non-dispersable items are making their way into treatment plants and septic systems and must be removed manually by septic experts and wastewater treatment plant employees.
So, what impact does all the additional waste in the water treatment process have on you? Processing trash that is non-dispersable requires a lot of time and effort, which translates into additional monies that must be paid, which comes from your pocket. In order to avoid additional expenses or an increase in your utilities bill, it is important to raise awareness of non-dispersable items staying out of the toilet. Pass on the word by sharing this blog or watch this video: Will It Flush? for more information.
If you’re a septic owner that hasn’t given much though to septic tank maintenance, please call Crews Environmental for a septic inspection. Mention this article and receive $25.00 off your inspection!
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