July 27, 2020

Why our sewers are plagued by fatbergs



Don't pour grease and oil down the drain...pretty much ever.

See, sewage is washed down the pipes by the way of water. 

Water takes along with it things that are soluble in water...like salt...food coloring...the eventual product of goldfish 'sent back to the sea'...

...but not things that are NOT soluble in water...like oil...grease...

But it's even worse (as Hank Green tells us in the above video) because of the hydrogen sulfide created by bacteria in human waste. The hydrogen sulfide eventually turns to sulfuric acid which reacts with lime in concrete (which most of our sewers are made of) which eventually crumbles the concrete and releases calcium sulfate. The calcium sulfate then reacts with fatty acids (oils, grease) and turns them into soaps (a la Fight Club).

And whatever non-waste stuff you're flushing down the toilet ('flushable' wipes, tampons, whatever) is just making that stuff stick to the walls even worse.

Sewage stuff is gross, man...gross.

So, don't pour oil and fat down the drain.

Don't flush anything but poop, pee, and toilet paper.

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