We’ve heard all sorts of crazy urban legends concerning sewer lines and the sewer system over the years. While many are just silly myths, there are a few that are born from half-truths, and some that prove that truth is stranger than fiction.
“Your Sewer Lines Are Constantly Filled With Waste”
Sewer lines are designed to carry your waste to the septic tank or local treatment facility, not let it sit there. The discarded refuse will continue to make its way through the lines and into the larger system long after you’ve flushed, unless there is some sort of clog or blockage.
“Snakes and Alligators Can Crawl Out of Your Toilet”
A common myth says that people flush unwanted baby alligators and snakes, who then live in the sewer system and travel into other people’s homes via their sewer lines, emerging from toilets to give people the fright of their lives.
First, our sewer systems are inhospitable environments, full of bacteria and moving liquid. Even if a baby alligator or snake could theoretically survive, it’s unlikely the animal would be able to navigate out of the sewer and up your sewer lines into your home.
“There Are Giant Masses of Fat, Wet Wipes and Grease in Our Sewers”
This one is 100% stranger than fiction. These giant masses are called fatbergs, as in an iceberg-like formation composed of discarded hygiene products and fat, and they can cost cities a fortune in taxpayer money to clean up. When people pour fat and grease down the drain, it can solidify when it enters the sewer system and mixes with wastewater. This hardened fat can attach itself to discarded baby wipes, cotton balls, and feminine hygiene products, creating formations that become gradually larger and larger over time, eventually requiring costly removal by the city or county.
You can do your part to prevent these fatbergs from hurting your town’s sewage system and potentially spiking your taxes. First, be mindful of what you pour down your kitchen sink. While most of us know to dispose of bacon grease in a can, we don’t think about things like coconut oil or fat residue on a plate, which can also solidify in wastewater. Second, never flush anything besides toilet paper and human waste. On top of helping to fight fatbergs, you’re also preventing sewer line clogs in your own home.
Understanding the truth about some common urban legends involving sewer systems can give you peace of mind while also equipping you to do your part to keep your system flowing freely.
Dealing with sewer line issues in Antioch, CA? Almighty Plumbing is ready to help.
