Across the country, aging sewer systems are meeting modern conveniences – and those meetings don’t always go smoothly. Alexandria is no different.
With an aging system, officials are working hard to replace water mains, sewer lines and protect the environment at the same time.
In 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed legislation requiring the City of Alexandria (and other jurisdictions) to remediate all of its combined sewer outfalls for environ-mental protection. Alexandria’s Long-Term Control Plan Update, submitted to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in 2018, “proposed the construction of a deep under-ground tunnel system to bring combined sew-age to the AlexRenew wastewater treatment facility and will result in significant reductions in the number and volume of combined sewage discharged into City waterways,” according to City documents.
That plan was approved in July 2018 and is in progress under the control of AlexRenew. (Learn more about the remediation project here.)
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Residents can help ensure that city pipes and waterways stay clear of contaminants by being careful about what goes down the toilet in the first place. (Hint: If it’s not toilet paper, it should generally go in the trash.)
Toilet Paper: YES! Of course, normal toilet paper can be flushed, as it is designed to break down. According to the National Resources Defense Council, the most environmentally-friendly toilet paper isn’t exactly the softest, prettiest kind. They recommend buying toilet paper that is made mostly of recycled content to help prevent deforestation.
What NOT to Flush
Kitty Litter Definitely do not put kitty litter into the toilet. It does not dissolve and it will create clogs.
‘Flushable’ Wipes Many wipes are supposed to be “flushable,” but they contain materials that don’t break down and end up in our waterways. Unlike toilet paper, wipes take hours to disintegrate and can create clogs in the sewage system. To be safe, don’t flush any wipes — even the so-called flushable kinds.
Floss Dental floss should go in the wastebasket, not the toilet. It doesn’t break down and can contribute to clogs in the pipes.
Medications Medications are another no-no for our sewer system. The chemicals in medications end up directly in our rivers and streams. To dispose of medications, keep an eye out for local Drug Enforcement Administration medication take-back events, locally sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department. The next national Drug Take Back Day is April 27, 2019.
Cotton Balls Along with paper towels, these are manufactured to stay together. That means there are binding agents in there that don’t break down. These should go in the trash.
Contact Lenses Contacts may eventually break down into smaller pieces, but they are a contributor to micro-plastic pollution in our water-ways and should be put in the trash.
Tampons (and Other Feminine Hygiene Products) The absorbent materials in tampons contribute to clogs in the system. The best place for them is in the trash, according to the tampon manufacturers themselves.
Condoms Condoms should not be flushed, ever. They can get stuck in the system and do not break down. Put these in the trash.
