Popular Science

Never, EVER Flush These Things Down a Toilet

Have you ever noticed those signs in public restrooms that say “Don’t flush anything down the toilet except toilet paper”? Someone had to have done that… and flooded the bathroom, right? Turn out, it’s not just about clogging the john. Those pipes lead to the sewers, where wet wipes, condoms, and grease from your kitchen…

Published

7 years ago

February 14, 2019

CYBER TECH TV

Have you ever noticed those signs in public restrooms that say “Don’t flush anything down the toilet except toilet paper”? Someone had to have done that… and flooded the bathroom, right?

Turn out, it’s not just about clogging the john. Those pipes lead to the sewers, where wet wipes, condoms, and grease from your kitchen sink can congeal and turn into huge masses called “fatbergs.” So, how can you help keep our sewage system free of fatbergs? Never, EVER flush these kinds of products down a toilet, sink, or drain.

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Producer/Video by: Jason Lederman

Researcher/Narrator: Amy Schellenbaum

Music: APM Music

Special Thanks: NYC Water, Thames Water, Museum of London, Alice Kim

Media: Pixabay, Pexels, Pond5, FreeSound.org, Prelinger Archive (archive.org), Wikimedia Commons

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14 Comments

Jarrod Hollie

February 14, 2019 at 7:21 pm

That’s good info I didn’t know about about the flushable wipes

Reply
- hotpockets222
  
  February 15, 2019 at 1:46 pm
  
  Same. I apologized in my head as soon as I heard it.
  “I had no idea, I’m sorry.”
  
  Reply
- Popular Science
  
  February 15, 2019 at 1:50 pm
  
  +hotpockets222 [Robin Williams voice] It’s not your fault.
  
  Reply
- Popular Science
  
  February 15, 2019 at 1:50 pm
  
  @hotpockets222 [Robin Williams voice] It’s not your fault.
  
  Reply
- jlederman2
  
  February 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm
  
  +Popular Science Don’t do this, man!! ?
  
  Reply
- jlederman2
  
  February 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm
  
  @Popular Science Don’t do this, man!! ?
  
  Reply
Ryan Perry

February 14, 2019 at 8:34 pm

The four Ps!

Reply
beecurse

February 14, 2019 at 10:12 pm

that aint a universal truth tho ? in brazil at least you cant (shouldnt) flush toilet paper

Reply
hotpockets222

February 15, 2019 at 1:49 pm

Real question, what about snot? Will mucus break down? I like to clear my nose during a steamy hot shower

Reply
- Popular Science
  
  February 15, 2019 at 4:18 pm
  
  You’re in the clear, but we *are* going to call you snotpockets from now on.
  
  Reply
MrLeslieF

February 17, 2019 at 2:12 am

I’ve had dental floss clog my sewer line. We had to call Roto Rooter!

Reply
J T

February 25, 2019 at 7:02 pm

I’m watching Jacob Ward live on MSNBC with Ali Velshi talk about disabling comments on popular science website. Comments here better?

Reply
Lonny

March 19, 2019 at 11:58 am

10 comments but only 6 showing..?

Reply
Joachim Murat

March 20, 2019 at 7:42 am

Our german Toilets look diffrent. 🙂

Reply

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