Don't Flush That! - April 2023

IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE WE ASKED M.D. RESIDENTS

“TO FLUSH, OR NOT TO FLUSH?”.

In an article by that name in the April 2018 edition of Rural Review, we talked about what people should and shouldn’t be flushing and the effects it can have on hamlet sewer systems and rural septic systems and fields.

This photo of the Ardmore lift station is from 2023 compared to the photo below from 2018.

In those five years, residents have taken the message to heart. Our M.D. Utilities Operators can see the difference, and now, so can you.

Above, you’ll see comparison photos from the Ardmore lift station, where residential sewage is treated. The original photo from 2018 is on the left, while the photo on the right was taken in March 2023.

To keep the message flowing, here are a few things you shouldn’t flush down your toilets, no matter if you’re on a municipal-run sewage system or a septic tank/field:

• Cooking fats

• Dairy products

• Dirt from washing produce

• Flushable wipes

• Pasta

• Rice

• Egg shells

• Coffee grounds

• Feminine hygiene products (including plastic applicators)

• Medications

Toilets are meant to handle human waste, not be a flushable trash can. All of the items listed above can create blockages in your plumbing, which are made up of bends and sweeps.

Another step is to use a product like SeptoBak, which can be found at local hardware stores. This flushable treatment can be flushed or poured down drains and helps keep things moving. It also helps create a healthy environment for the good bacteria that helps break down waste.

Have questions? Give the M.D.’s Utilities Department a call at 780-826-3951.