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Wastewater Infographic

Filed Under:
Publication Number: P3020
View as PDF: P3020.pdf

Water You Doing?

What you put down the drain can cause big problems for your community's wastewater system!

Keep these things out of your drains to reduce clogs, lower costs, minimize the need for repairs, and protect the environment:

  • fat, oil, and grease
  • nonflushable paper
  • nonflushable feminine hygiene products
  • nonflushable baby wipes
  • nonflushable household wipes

Negative effects on wastewater systems of nonacceptable items being put down the drain include these:

  • time and effort for repairs
  • payroll costs for labor
  • impact of wastewater on the environment

Wastewater system estimated repair time: 8.1 hours per week.

Wastewater system operators spend an estimated 20 percent of their time working on repairs and maintenance resulting from nonacceptable items being put down the drain.


Publication 3020 (POD-03-17)

By Jason Barrett, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, Water Resources Research Institute. Adapted for Mississippi from From Toilet to Wastewater Treatment infographic, INDNMaine Waste Water Control Association/Water Environment Federation/Portland Water District Collection Study at Westbrook Pumping Station, Maine.

Data was gathered from surveys of certified wastewater operators in Mississippi in 2016.

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Authors

Portrait of Dr. Jason Barrett
Assoc Ext Prof & Assoc Dir
Water & Wastewater Utilities, Economics & Natural Resources, Community Development,

Your Extension Experts

Portrait of Dr. Beth Harlander Baker
Associate Extension Professor
Portrait of Dr. Jason Barrett
Assoc Ext Prof & Assoc Dir
Portrait of Dr. Eric L. Sparks
Assc Extension Prof & Director