NEWS: With a Great Lake comes great responsibility. #FlushResponsibly

It's important to drink responsibly. From our perspective, your actions following your beverages of choice are just as important.

We're proud to support the Burning River Foundation's Burning River Fest and its focus on sustainability this Friday and Saturday, and we thought it was the perfect opportunity to spread the message of responsible flushing. Our work protects Lake Erie, and what goes down your toilet and drains matters.

Taps and toilets tend to go hand-in-hand, and we hope you can help us raise awareness of clean water and personal responsibility before, during, and after you raise a glass of your favorite beverages.

Share your favorite #FlushResponsibly message below.

Take it seriously.

We take our clean-water responsibilities seriously. We encourage you to do the same. #FlushResponsibly.

TIPS: 15 things you shouldn't flush

Just because it can fit in your toilet doesn't mean it's flushable.

VIDEO: Uh, "President" says #DontFlushWipes

Flushable wipes are in the news lately, but they are just one of many items that can cause plumbing problems, or even larger wastewater treatment issues in many cities.

Whether at your own home or at a public restroom, you might want to keep this list in mind: Here are 15 items most commonly discarded in toilets that shouldn't be. They may cause problems in home plumbing systems, on your property, in the miles of sewer underground, or all the way at a treatment plant. It's best to pitch all of these items in the garbage.

 

RELATED STORIES:

•  #FlushResponsibly: With a Great Lake comes great responsibility. #FlushResponsibly.
•  NEWS: Consumer Reports confirms flushable wipes still aren't flushable
•  FLUSH OR FICTION? Top 5 toilet-related myths and legends
• #PitchThosePills: Why you should not flush old medications (and how to get rid of them the right way)

HOME: #PitchThosePills! What to do with your old or unused meds

What do you do with your outdated or unused medications at home? Many residents don't know what to do with them, but we have recommendations to protect your family and our environment.

We remind you to pitch those pills properly. Here's why:

Download this as a PDF

Besides the dangers of unintentional poisoning at home, flushing pills down the toilet can be a water quality issue as wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to remove pharmaceuticals from wastewater. It can affect the environment and public health.

What to do for safe disposal

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration regularly offers its National Take Back Initiatives, but you don't need to wait until then: Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District offers year-round recommendations, including the County Sheriff's RX Drug Drop Box Program at local law enforcement agencies.

COLLECTION EVENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY: Upcoming @neorsd #PitchThosePills collection events

Many may think it's OK to simply flush old or unused medications down the toilet, but that's not true. While researchers have no definitive evidence of human health risk directly related to flushing unused medications, the Sewer District has found education can help reduce this source of potential contamination.

Research, education continues

Pharmaceuticals in wastewater is not a new issue. We have researched and monitored trends dating back to the mid-1990s and have been involved in state and national dialogue ever since. We will continue to be active in all pharmaceutical wastewater-treatment research and seek the best solutions to address any health and environmental concerns.

NEWS: Wipes in the pipes? Not a good idea, and it's national news.

That's the story that ran in USA Today this week, featuring cities' sewer issues being caused by an increasing number of so-called "flushable" disinfecting wipes clogging wastewater-treatment systems.

From the story:

The products appeal to consumers in part because of manufacturers' claims that they can be conveniently flushed down the toilet. But their cloth-like material doesn't break down in the sanitary sewer system like toilet paper and can block sewer lines, clog equipment and increase cities' maintenance and repair costs.

Public works managers say the problem has worsened in recent years because more such products are available on the market and consumer demand for antibacterial products is growing.

Companies such as Cottonelle and Charmin have heavily promoted bathroom wipes, while some cleaning product manufacturers have advertised sponges that can be disposed of in the toilet.

VID: Not interested in stormwater management? Here are four kittens who dare you not to watch.

Picture yourself at the last public meeting, PowerPoint presentation, or course lecture you sat through. Don't yawn as you think back.

Now picture yourself at the same event holding a cute tiny baby kitty in your lap.

Makes everything cuter, doesn't it?

That's how we felt, too. A while back, we wanted to share this brief four-minute overview of our Stormwater Management Program because we knew customers would benefit. But something was missing. A few purrs later, now we have the video running on a loop in our office, just like you do at home. OK, maybe not to that degree, but it's a notable improvement, no?

Learn more about our program, your fees, and your credit opportunities. Or you can learn more about cats if you prefer.

EVENTS: New #LunchByTheLake series kicks off Thursday

A Great Lake venue is about to get greater starting this Thursday.

We are proud to partner with Downtown Cleveland Alliance and 107.3 The Wave on a new weekly lunchtime event at a great lakefront venue filled live music and even a peek into the inner-workings of some of Cleveland's famous food trucks.

Lunch By The Lake will be held on the E. 9th Street Pier every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through September starting July 11.

INFOGRAPHIC: What the flush? Weirdest things ever flushed down the toilet.

Some strange items survive the long journey through the sewers and into our treatment plants. But some of the best "lost and found" stories are much closer to home.

Contractor Fails composed a great infographic featuring some of the not-so-flushable items and their tales that topped its list of favorites.

Courtesy of: Contractor Fails