Did you ever wonder what happens to all the wastewater generated by your household? Where does it all go? We're not talking toilets alone, here. Add up all the additional water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, and dishwashers and the number of gallons disposed of daily might surprise you. Multiply that by the number of residences in your neighborhood, community, and county and the quantity is staggering.

Wastewater includes water from all the above sources, and is also produced by industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. When it leaves your home, wastewater travels down a single pipe to your street, where it connects to a larger pipe collecting from surrounding homes in your area. Increasingly, larger pipes collect from surrounding streets and neighborhoods. Eventually, all these pipes lead to one of the County's five wastewater treatment plants where the wastewater is treated and cleaned so it can be put back into the environment safely.

Flushing or draining the "wrong things" is harmful both to the environment and us humans and can result in damage to your home while compromising the integrity of the sewer system itself. The largest problem facing the County's sewer system is "flushable wipes," which have become common household products. Baby, personal care, and sanitizing wipes may say "flushable" on the label, but they do not dissolve in the toilet or sewer systems like normal toilet paper. They stay intact, clogging sewer pipes and pumps, leading to sewage backups into homes or overflow from manhole covers.

Another serious problem for home plumbing and the County's wastewater collection system is the improper disposal of used cooking oil. When poured down the drain, it gels and solidifies inside pipes, sewage lines, and sewage lift stations. This constricts water flow that can clog or back up your home plumbing and causes equipment to malfunction, leading to sewage spills, overflows, and foul odors.

Unused or unwanted medications should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain. Public sewer and water systems were not designed to filter out the chemical and biological elements found in drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet can pass through the treatment system and enter rivers and lakes, impacting wildlife and drinking water supplies. The best way to dispose of unused or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug disposal site immediately.

Additionally, household hazardous wastes, including products that contain ingredients that are toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive, should never be poured down the drain or flushed. Instead, dispose of these at one of the County's three Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.

Never Pour These Items Down the Drain!

601 E. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33602