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City of Bartlesville Water Utilities Department officials are asking wastewater customers to be mindful of the items they are putting into the sewer system as the department continues to wrestle with an unusually high number of sewer backups brought on since the pandemic.

Water Utilities Terry Lauritsen says the problem has been especially prevalent in recent weeks.

Lauritsen said the main culprit is disposable wipe products. He said these need to be thrown in the trash, including the ones labeled ‘flushable,’ and not flushed down the toilet.

The Water Utilities Department is asking wastewater customers to be more vigilant in making sure items that should not be put into the sewer system are put into the trash instead. For anyone wondering what those items are, Lauritsen said it's pretty simple: it's toilet paper and human waste. he said everything else goes in the in the trash.

What not to flush:

• Disposable wipes of any kind, even if labeled “flushable” “Wipes don’t break down in the sewer line and have become one of the No. 1 causes of sewer backups,” Lauritsen said.
• F.O.G. (fats, oils and grease) “This includes cooking oils and grease flushed through the sink or dishwasher and greasy scraps sent through the garbage disposal,” Lauritsen said. “F.O.G. cools and congeals down the line, sticking to pipes.”
• Feminine sanitary products including tampons, applicators and pads
• Diapers and nursing pads
• Dental floss
• Paper towels and tissues
• Hair
• Cotton balls and Q-tips
• Condoms

Helpful tips:

• Collect fats, oils and grease (F.O.G.) in a container and dispose of it in the garbage. Prior to washing any cookware or dishes with F.O.G. residual, wipe it down with a paper towel and discard the paper towel in the garbage.
• Common sources of F.O.G. include:

1. Oil from cooked meats and fish
2. Gravies, sauces and soups
3. Cooking oil, butter, shortening, lard and margarine
4. Milk, cream, sour cream and mayonnaise
5. Oily or greasy food scraps.

• Scrape or discard food scraps in the garbage prior to washing dishes.
• Dispose of disposable wipes, even ones labeled “flushable,” feminine sanitary products, diapers, dental floss and paper towels in the garbage.
• Install and maintain a backflow device and/or a pop-up cleanout.

If you have questions about any waste water issue, the Wastewater Department can be reached by calling 918.338.4104. Normal business hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For emergencies outside of normal business hours, call 918.338.4055.