Flush properly - The Hunt for the Sewer Scoundrels
Things might seem quiet in the sewer pipes, but there’s more going on down there than you might think. Every year, items flushed down the drain cause clogs in the pipes. Here you can read more about the most common sewer culprits – and how you can easily help prevent them.
Many clogs start with something small. A cotton swab, a wet wipe, a bit of grease, or hair flushed down the drain ends up in the pipes. There, they can get stuck, become tangled, and cause a clog. To make it clear, we call them “sewer scoundrels.” They work quietly – but can cause major problems in pipes and wastewater treatment plants.
When a clog occurs, the pipes need to be cleared. Sometimes this can also affect buildings. For example, if water doesn’t drain properly, which in the worst case can lead to sewage flooding in basements
The good news is that much of this can be avoided. Only urine, feces, and toilet paper belong in the toilet, and in the kitchen, we should avoid flushing cooking grease down the drain.
Most people in Skellefteå are already flushing correctly. By making the same choices, you’re helping to keep the sewers running – every day.
Watch the video about "The Hunt for the Sewer Scoundrels"
- Skellefteå Municipality’s water distribution network experiences approximately 200 service interruptions per year.
- It costs Skellefteå Municipality approximately 1.5 million SEK per year to handle blockages in the sewer system.
- In addition, there are further costs associated with basement flooding.
The Most Common Drain Cloggers
Wendy Wet Wipe
Wendy flows away with the water, but she’s tough and holds her shape. Instead of dissolving, she’s pulled out into long strands that float through the pipes. When she reaches a pump, she easily gets stuck and wraps herself around the machinery. More wet wipes get caught, and suddenly the pump struggles to keep up; the flow stops, and problems arise.
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Tangled Tina
Tangled Tina easily flows down the drain with the water. Down there, the hair starts to tangle into small clumps that get stuck in the pipes. When grease and other debris pass through, they get caught in the hair clumps, making them bigger and stickier. Eventually, the clump can become so large that the water can barely get through.
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Cotton Pad Penny
Penny spins happily down the drain, but inside the pipes, he changes. He soaks up water, swells, and becomes soft and stringy. When Rulle encounters other clumps that don’t dissolve, they start to get tangled up with each other. Together, they form a growing clump that gets stuck in the pipe and slows the flow – sometimes until it comes to a complete stop.
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Q-tip Quentin
One day, Q-tip Quentin follows the water down into the pipe. It’s cramped down there, so Ture lies down across it. Soon he’s joined by more lint balls, and together they form a small barrier right in the middle of the flow. Hairballs, grease balls, and other debris that pass by get caught in the barrier. What started with a single lint ball slowly grows until the water can no longer flow properly.
Sneaky Snus
Sneaky Snus often end up in the sewer system without anyone realizing it. They travel with the water all the way to the wastewater treatment plant, but there they cause problems. The biological treatment process involves microorganisms that help purify the water – and substances from snus can harm them. When the snus troublemakers show up, it becomes harder for the treatment plants to do their job.
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Fatberg Frank
When Fatberg Frank is poured down the drain, he initially flows along as if nothing had happened. But further down the pipes, he cools and begins to solidify. Slowly, he forms a film on the walls of the pipes. Layer upon layer builds up, and debris that passes through gets stuck to the sticky surface. Eventually, he forms a solid clog that narrows the passage so much that the water can barely get through.
Test your knowledge. What do you know about sewer scoundrels?
Why We Hunt Down Sewer scoundrels
"The Hunt for the Sewer Scoundrels" is a campaign designed to raise awareness about what items should not be flushed down the drain. Through clear tips and villain characters, we aim to inspire behavioral change and make it easier to do the right thing in everyday life.