How to Save Your Sewer

Our community plays a big role in saving our sewers and preventing sanitary sewer overflows. Sanitary sewer overflows can be caused by fats, oils and grease (F.O.G.) being poured down drains, which clog wastewater lines causing blockages and overflows. Sanitary sewer overflows are also caused by flushing items that shouldn’t be flushed.

How can I help? Only flush the 3 Ps – Pee, Poo, and toilet Paper

Even if a product is labeled as “flushable” it should not go down the drain; all wipes can clog your pipes, leading to expensive plumbing costs, and causing overflows down the line. Remember #wipesclogpipes

Never Flush:

Any kind of wipe

“Flushable”
Baby
Make-up removing

Paper towels
Sanitary products
Contraceptives
Diapers
Hair

Kitty litter

Bandages

Cloth of any type

Dental floss

Q-tips/ Cotton balls

Cigarettes

Pet fish

Pills/ Medication

Chewing gum

Cool It, Can It, Trash It

Never pour Fats, Oils or Grease (F.O.G.) down the drain or down the garbage disposal
Scrape fatty food and leftovers into the trash can
Use a paper towel to wipe down greasy pans and throw it in the trash
Take used cooking oil and store it in a container to reuse later or throw in the trash
Minimize the use of your garbage disposal

When it rains

Avoid doing laundry and running the dishwasher at the same time to prevent sewer overflows

Outside your home

Cap your wastewater cleanout

Your wastewater cleanout is an important part of your home’s plumbing and disposal system. These are located in the front or back yard of your home. They look like capped pipes sticking out of the ground.
Make sure this pipe always has the proper cap covering the opening to avoid costly repairs.

Avoid planting trees or large shrubs on or near sewer lines.
Report sanitary sewer overflows by calling 361-826-2489. The City will send crews to respond to the sanitary sewer overflow, clean up and investigate the cause of the overflow. You may also call 361-826-2489 if sewage is overflowing out of a clean out. Crews will investigate the cause; however, if the cause is found to be a private connection to the system the property owner will be responsible for fixing the issue.