The Toilet is NOT PLEASE HELP THE CITY SEWER DEPARTMENT - If you or your a trash can plumber clear a blockage with a sewer cleaning machine, please Many common products contain hazardous chemicals that can notify the City Office so appropri- pollute our groundwater, creeks, ate measures can be taken to as- rivers and lakes. sure no blockage of the public sew- er main will occur. NEVER DUMP THESE HAZARDOUS YOUR CITY WASTES IN THE TRASH, SINK, “NO MATTER WHAT THE LABEL TOILET, GUTTER OR STORM DRAIN. SAYS, THE ONLY ITEMS YOU SEWER Batteries, fluorescent light SHOULD FLUSH ARE HUMAN bulbs and tubes, mercury ther- DEPARTMENT mometers and thermostats WASTE AND TOILET PAPER!” Solvent-based glue, paint, Never flush wipes, diapers or feminine hy- WANTS YOU TO strippers, wood preservatives giene products, even if they are labeled and nail polish “flushable”. These products do not disinte- KNOW….. Antifreeze, engine cleaners and grate in water as quickly as toilet paper and degreasers, gasoline and motor often cause clogs in public sewer mains. If oil wipes can clog large sewer mains, they can Antifreeze, engine cleaners and definitely clog your home’s much smaller degreasers, gasoline and motor oil sewer pipes, requiring you to pay a plumber to clear the blockage. Fertilizers and pesticides Never flush medications down the sink or Pool and spa water and pool toilet. Studies have shown that this can pre- chemicals sent environmental problems and certain Take Care of Your Toilet medications have been found in water sup- Leaking toilets are expensive! Most of the plies. time it is a bad flush valve (the stopper at Recommended disposal method is to place the bottom of the bank connected to the the medication in a disposable bag, crush handle). Any hardware store carries flush valves. They are inexpensive and fairly the medication, add enough water to dis- easy to install. solve them, then mix with soil, coffee grounds or cat litter, seal the bag and toss in your trash. City of Alma Waste Water Superintendent - 614 Main Street PO Box 468 Travis Dunse Alma NE 68920 Phone: 308-928-2242 Tel: 308 928 2242 Fax: 308-928-2683 E-mail: [email protected] On Call After Hours 308 920 1047 Tips –prevent clogged lines Preventing Sewer Line Backup inside and outside and Overflow Cleanouts are a direct line to the sewer and High on the list of experiences nobody wants to consequently to sewer gas smell. have is a sewer backup or overflow. Fortunate- The following may help with odor problems. ly, this experience can usually be avoided by being aware of what causes backups and avoid- Make sure traps are full of water, since the ing those causes. The two primary causes water in floor drains and other drain traps of sewer backups and overflows are tends to evaporate GREASE and ROOTS. Make sure all caps are on and secure Grease and greasy food Sometimes a small amount of bleach poured waste are the most fre- into the drain can help quent causes of clogs Plant roots are another frequent cause of sewer Clean Clogged Drains Carefully and costly repairs. If backups and overflows. The roots of shrubs and cooking grease or oil is trees naturally seek any water source. The roots Cleaning clogged drains isn’t as easy as dump- poured down the drain probe the sewer line seeking any opening, such as ing a chemical drain cleaner down and waiting. or flushed down toilets, a crack or a poorly sealed joint. Once the sewer Did you know that waste removal lines feed into even when followed by line is penetrated, the roots form a ball and block a larger main line carrying waste water away hot water, it eventually the line. from your house into the City’s sewer system? cools down, congeals, builds up, and hardens, The best way to avoid root blockages is not to Use liquid drain cleaners instead of crystal drain eventually forming a plug in both home and plant trees and shrubs close to your home’s cleaners. Crystal drain cleaners may solidify in City sewer lines. Over time, this situation sewer service line. However, if trees or shrubs your pipes. creates backups and overflows. Experts say you should never use a chemical already are growing near the line, watch for reduc- This situation can be avoided if you: tions in flows down the drain. If a reduction in drain cleaner to fix a “total blockage”. You’ll flow occurs, have a plumber check the line and need the aid of a sewer cleaning machine, which Never pour grease down sink drains or into clears away the blockage and restores the pipes clear the blockage if necessary. toilets. Grease clings to pipes and builds up to a more pristine condition. over time. If flow through the sewer has stopped, call a plumber. If it’s just sluggish, you can restore the Try preventing the problem altogether: Once a Scrape grease and food scraps from plates, month, pour one cup of baking soda, fol- flow and prevent future stoppage by using copper pots, pans, utensils and grills into a can or lowed by one cup of white vinegar down the trash for disposal sulfate. the drain. Wait an hour and flush with Wipe greasy pans and dishes with a paper Copper sulfate will kill not only roots growing in warm water. The combination fizzles away towel and place the towel with food scraps the sewer line but also the organisms which pro- most of the buildup. This typically works in your trash duce offensive odors. Copper sulfate will require for showers, tubs and kitchen sink drains. Do not put grease down the garbage disposal. several days to several weeks to work. Spectacular results are sometimes obtained. Dispose of small amounts of liquid cooking Pour copper sulfate crystals of medium size into oil in tightly sealed containers in the trash the commode or toilet stool in small amounts. Fol- Pla Collect grease in a re-sealable container and low instructions on the container for best results. bring it to Alma’s hazardous waste ce Under NO circumstances should copper sulfate collection (held the first and third Saturdays crystals be placed in sink or tub traps. Much small- te of March, June and September) er amounts of copper sulfate could be used two or xt See City website www.almacity.com to learn how three times a year to prevent stoppage where root to safely recycle or dispose of hazardous waste. invasion problems are frequent. Copper sulfate can be obtained from drugs stores or garden centers. .