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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#popsci #science #fatberg #toilet #grease #drain #sink #bathroom #flush
Jarrod Hollie
February 14, 2019 at 7:21 pm
That’s good info I didn’t know about about the flushable wipes
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.”
Popular Science
February 15, 2019 at 1:50 pm
+hotpockets222 [Robin Williams voice] It’s not your fault.
Popular Science
February 15, 2019 at 1:50 pm
@hotpockets222 [Robin Williams voice] It’s not your fault.
jlederman2
February 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm
+Popular Science Don’t do this, man!! ?
jlederman2
February 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm
@Popular Science Don’t do this, man!! ?
Ryan Perry
February 14, 2019 at 8:34 pm
The four Ps!
beecurse
February 14, 2019 at 10:12 pm
that aint a universal truth tho ? in brazil at least you cant (shouldnt) flush toilet paper
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
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.
MrLeslieF
February 17, 2019 at 2:12 am
I’ve had dental floss clog my sewer line. We had to call Roto Rooter!
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?
Lonny
March 19, 2019 at 11:58 am
10 comments but only 6 showing..?
Joachim Murat
March 20, 2019 at 7:42 am
Our german Toilets look diffrent. 🙂