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.

  1. Clogged Pipes & Overflows

Logs of Hardened GreaseClogged Pipes Cause Overflows

Over time, grease poured down drains into the sewer system builds up to a point wastewater cannot pass through. When grease hardens in the pipes, it creates these almost cement-like logs.

A sanitary sewer overflow occurs whenever a sewer pipe gets clogged and sewage backs up through the path of least resistance. That could be outside from a manhole or it could burst through a weak spot in the pipe. It could also be inside through a bathtub, sink, dishwasher, etc. What most people don't realize is that the sewer system doesn't just carry away waste from the toilet, it carries away anything that goes down any drain in our homes and businesses. 

Clogged Drain PipeSinks, floor drains, washing machines, dishwashers, showers - they all drain to the sanitary sewer. So if the sewer gets clogged, sewage could back up through any of these sources and create a huge (and smelly!) mess.

Prevention

To prevent costly plumbing problems in your own home, don't pour oil or grease down the drain or garbage disposal. If you do, there's a risk of sewer backups that could damage your possessions or cause your water to be shut off while repairs are made. Instead, put every drop of kitchen grease where it belongs: in the trash.

  1. Flushable Wipes
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Education

  1. Costs

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.

Drainwrecks spoil holidays, do not pour grease down the drain

  1. Myths