Southern Wisconsin Times

Unfortunately, there have been many incidences of costly snarls in the pipes and pumps of sewer systems within the City of Janesville's Wastewater Utility Collection systems. These are mainly due to typical wet wipes and other non-flushable items that residents put down drains and toilets. Although many manufacturers advertise bathroom products as flushable, they do not break down in the sewer system. Instead, they cling to materials such as grease or other debris and cause large stoppages. Often, these blockages must be manually removed either directly from the sewer lines or at a wastewater treatment plant.

Impacts of non-flushable products entering sewer systems can remain undetected and cause significant breaks in sewer mains or backups into homes. These repairs can be highly costly. 

The City asks residents to dispose of the following products in the trash instead of flushing them down toilets or drains:

• Any wipes
• Vitamins
• Medicines
• Food or candy packaging
• Toilet cleaning pads or solid products
• Napkins or paper towels
• Dental floss
• Greases, fats, or oils
• Feminine hygiene products
• Contraceptive devices
• Cloth items
• Bandages
• Plastic materials
• Kitty litter
• Any inorganic material

The only two items you should flush are human waste and toilet paper. 

Community members must dispose of materials such as motor oil, antifreeze, paint, etc., following federal, state, and local regulations. Residents may drop off these items at a Clean Sweep collection site. To learn more about Rock County's Clean Sweep initiative, visit the program's webpage. For extra or unused medications, please visit the City's Prescription Pill Drop-off Program webpage for more information on how to dispose of them safely.

For questions, contact the Janesville Water Utility at (608) 755-3115.

Original source can be found here.