As part of its Clean Water Forward initiative, MetroConnects has been inspecting its sanitary sewer lines and undertaking maintenance and replacement of aging sewer infrastructure. During these inspections, MetroConnects crew members and contractors are also identifying problems within your private sanitary sewer lateral line and your clean-out. To learn more about the work MetroConnects is doing in your area and what you can do to protect your sewer system, visit www.metroconnects.org/lines-cleanouts.
One of the most important things that you can do to keep your sewer pipes clear is to properly dispose of fats, oils and greases, also known as FOG.
FOG can be harmful to the environment. If poured down the drain, FOG sticks to the inside of the sewer lines. and over time, this grease builds up and can create massive clogs which in turn lead to sewer backups and overflows. To learn more, visit www.pipepatrol.org.
You can help us wipe out a huge sewer problem by making sure that wipes, rags, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products are placed in a trash receptacle, not the toilet.
While a product may say “flushable,” MetroConnects’ says wipes don’t belong down the pipes. While these wipes do eventually break down, they take a longer amount of time to do so when compared to toilet paper.
If you ever see a lid off a manhole, unauthorized personnel tampering with a manhole, a tree down on a sewer line, or wastewater overflowing a manhole, please contact Metro at 864.277.4442.
In the event of a sanitary sewer overflow, do not allow children to play in or around wastewater flowing from the manhole.