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Disposable Society
October 5, 2007
We live in a
society where everything is manufactured to make life “easier”. This
means a disposable society. From the wipes used in and around the home
for cleaning a variety of items, the new and improved flushable toilet
bowl cleaning brushes, to the feminine hygiene products listed by
manufacturers as flushable, per the instructions on the package.
The problem with
these so called “FLUSHABLE” items, is the fact that the companies list
many of these products as biodegradable, meaning they will break down in
the sewer system or septic tank after they are flushed. They may break
down, but what the companies don’t state is the fact that this process
may take many years to do so.
Of course, we as a
society have come to believe those myriad of TV ads as fact.
It has been proven
that these so called disposable items have caused many problems with
sewer lines, sewage pump stations, and equipment within a wastewater
facility itself. They cause blockages in the sewers, which may lead to
back ups in the sewer lines themselves, and eventually, cause raw sewage
to back up into homes.
These items also
clog pumps in the cities pump stations, which require man hours to pull
the pumps and remove the offending obstructions. And when the items make
it to the wastewater treatment plant, they may pass through the very
equipment meant to capture and remove them from the waste stream. This
will then cause the items to plug pumps at the wastewater treatment
facility itself.
Hair is another
problem. It will mat up and also cause obstructions.
Improper disposal
of some outdated medicines will cause fish in receiving waters to change
gender. There are documented cases of male fish laying eggs.
One way to help the
environment, as well as eliminating the potential of sewage back ups in
the home, is to “properly” dispose of items by throwing them into the
garbage can where they belong.
Another item
causing sewer problems is improper disposal (down the drain) of Fats,
Oils and Greases. Cooking fats should be poured into a soup can, allowed
to solidify and thrown into the trash, or allowed to solidify in a pot
or pan and wiped clean with paper towels and thrown into the trash.
This will help
eliminate Sanitary Sewer Overflows (raw sewage discharge into receiving
waters). Not only will this help the environment, but will save you and
the city the added expense of removing these items from the sewer
system.
The idea of “out of
sight, out of mind” is not the proper solution for disposal of anything.
We are all stewards
of the environment. We need to do our part to protect it.
Lou Colburn
Chief Operator/Pretreatment Coordinator
City of Brewer
Water Pollution Control Facility |
