Please Keep Our Pipes and Water Clean – “Don’t Flush That!”

We’ve been hearing and talking a lot about the city’s power grid issues recently, but let’s not forget there are other city systems that are also vulnerable to overload.

The Los Angeles Sanitation Department reminded us recently that its pipes are fragile, too, and that we can all help to keep things running smoothly by being more mindful of the things we put into our plumbing.  Flushing foreign objects or substances down our toilets can clog pipes and also cause overflow from the backups to leak into our storm sewers, and out to our beaches and oceans.

According to CitySan’s new “Don’t Flush That” campaign:

“Our sewer system carries wastewater to one of four water reclamation plants, where it is highly treated and discharged into the river or ocean. Flushing anything but human waste and toilet paper can cause blockages, back ups, and sewer line breaks. Unfortunately, when this happens, untreated sewage can enter the storm drain system and impact our beaches.

You can help protect our waterways, beaches, and the environment. Please don’t litter, and never use your toilet as a trash can. Unused medicine and sharps such as needles and lancets can be dropped off at SAFE Centers across the city.”

LA CitySan urges residents to share this message, the #dontflushthat tagline, and the graphics below, on social media and elsewhere.