Illinois American Water encourages
customers to refrain from flushing disinfection wipes and pouring
grease down the drain
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[April 13, 2020]
With
a shortage of toilet paper, many households are increasing their use
of “flushable” wipes, but Illinois American Water warns against
flushing these items down the toilet. According to the Company,
flushing baby wipes - even those that are labeled flushable or
biodegradable - and paper towels down the toilet can lead to sewer
backups and in-home plumbing issues.
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Vice President of Operations Beth Matthews said,
“Many sewer blockages occur between the house or business and the
utility’s sewer main, where the property owner is responsible for
correcting the problem. We want to help our customers avoid
blockages and a plumbing emergency.”
She added that flushing the wrong things down the drain can cause
problems in the local sewer system. She said, “While it might seem
to make your daily life easier, putting the wrong thing down the
toilet or drain can and does cause blockages, which take time and
money to fix.”
In addition to disinfection wipes, Illinois American Water also
warns against pouring grease, fat or oil down the drain. When washed
down the drain, grease and oil can adhere to the insides of the
pipes that carry the wastewater from homes and businesses to the
sewer treatment facility.
Over time, this buildup of grease can restrict the flow of
wastewater, or worse yet, block the homeowners’ or utility’s sewer
pipes. These blockages can lead to sewage overflows or backups in
homes and businesses. It can also have an adverse effect on the
environment if the overflow enters local rivers, lakes and streams.
Tips for homeowners include:
• Allow grease to cool and use a rubber scraper to remove the fat,
oil and grease from cookware, plates, utensils and cooking surfaces.
Then place the grease in a sealed container and dispose of it in the
trash.
• Install baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and
empty them into the trash.
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• Keep in mind, garbage disposals do not prevent
grease from washing down the drain. Also, detergents that claim to
dissolve grease may pass it down the line and cause problems in
other parts of the wastewater system.
More information and tips can be found online at
illinoisamwater.com under Water Quality and Preventing Sewer
Blockages.
About Illinois American Water - Illinois American Water, a
subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest
investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality
and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3
million people. American Water also operates a customer service
center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in
Belleville.
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest
and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and
wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800
dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based
drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million
people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable
and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep
their lives flowing. For more information, visit a mwater.com
[Karen Cotton]
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