Wipes Clog Pipes | वाइपहरूले पाइपहरू अवरोध गर्छन् | Влажные салфетки забивают трубы! | Șervețelele înfundă conductele | 湿巾会堵塞管道 | Suufka wax lagu sifeeyo ayaa xiraaya Tuubooyinka biyaha iyo Wasaqda | Las toallitas obstruyen las tuberías | Вологі серветки забивають труби | Các loại Khăn lau làm Tắc nghẽn Đường ống | Waip Ra Pinei Ekkewe Paip
Toilet paper breaks down quickly in water. Other materials remain intact. In fact, wipes are a leading cause of sewage overflows and costly clogs to City pipes and pump stations. Another leading cause is fats, oils, and grease poured down sink drains.
As more people stay home and correctly follow public health official guidelines, Environmental Services offers this advice to prevent the most common causes of sewage backups and overflows:
- Prevent wipes from clogging pipes. Only flush the 3Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper. Other materials belong in the trash, not the toilet. For more tips, go to What Not To Flush.
- Prevent fats, oils, and grease from clogging sink drains and sewer pipes. Pour unused cooking oil and other grease into cans, let cool (it will turn from a liquid into a solid), and place in the trash. For more tips, go to Fat Free Pipes.
If you experience a clogged pipe in your home, call a plumber. If you experience or see a sewer overflow, call the City of Portland’s 24/7 hotline: 503-823-1700.