Drainwreck

Abilene’s Drain Problem

When fats, oils, and grease are disposed down drains and into the City of Abilene's sewer system, they coat the inside of pipes and eventually cause clogs, backups, or overflow. 

It's also important to know that so-called 'flushable' wipes, are in fact not flushable, and cause clogs to build exponentially faster as the hardened grease also adheres to the non-decomposed wipe. The number of overflows happening in Abilene because of this kind of backup has been on the rise, causing property damage, foul odors, and road closures.

Adverse Issues

  1. Clogged Pipes
  2. Overflows
  3. Flushable Wipes
  4. Grease Hardens

Clogged Drain PipeClogged Pipes Cause Overflows

Over time, grease poured down drains into the sewer system builds up to a point wastewater cannot pass through.

Videos

Watch and share these videos and help us share the drainwreck message with our community!

Fat, Oils, & Grease Spot

If we don't cool it with all the fats, oil and grease we'll be headed toward a drainwreck.

Flushable Wipes Spot

Flushable wipes clog pipes! Despite their claims, flushable wipes do not dissolve!

Education

  1. Costs
  2. Myths

Monetary

If the clog is in plumbing on your property, it is your responsibility to clean and repair, which can cost hundreds of dollars. When clogs are within the Abilene sewer system, each can cost the City thousands of dollars to repair.

Sanitary

Sewage overflows inside homes and businesses are not pleasant experiences. The sewer system doesn’t just carry away waste from the toilet, it carries away everything disposed down the drain whether it be sinks, floor drains, washing machines, or dishwashers. Clogs can back up and overflow through any of these sources causing a huge mess and rancid odor.

Accessibility

When repairs are made, the water is often turned off. If there is a clog in a multi-family unit, it is common that the water to the entire building would be turned off. If an overflow occurs from a manhole into the streets, you can expect road closures and detours. Common play and parking areas such as cul-de-sacs, can be blocked off while repairs and clean up take place.