--- title: Love Your Pipes | NEW Water description: "Learn what you can do to #LoveYourPipes to protect your health, the environment, and your pocketbook. Toilets are not trashcans, flush only the 3Ps." image: https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/Love%20Your%20Pipes/LoveYourPipes%20Graphic%20Website2.jpg --- ![NEW Water's Tunnel System](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Top%20Hero%20Banners/LYP%20Banner.jpg)   ![Love Your Pipes Banner](https://www.newwater.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Love%20Your%20Pipes%20Banner.jpg?width=600&name=Love%20Your%20Pipes%20Banner.jpg) # Love Your Pipes ## Your Toilet is Not a Trashcan #Unflushables Have you thought about the pipes in your home today? Pouring medications, chemicals, and hazardous waste down the drain will enter the environment. Flushing wipes, dental floss, oil and grease can cause basement backups, and add costs to your sewer bill. Proper disposal of these items is easy. [Learn how you can Love Your Pipes to protect your health, the environment – and your pocketbook!](https://www.browncountyrecycling.org/what-do-i-do-with) ![PSA Needles 2021 10.12.2021](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/PSAs/Needles/PSA%20Needles%202021%2010.12.2021.jpg) ![PSA Unflushables 3.2021](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/PSAs/Unflushables/PSA%20Unflushables%203.2021%20Rec.%20-%20SMU.jpg) ![PSA Dental Floss 2021 ](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/PSAs/Dental%20Floss/Floss%20Social%2016.9%20-%20TW.jpg) ![Thanksgiving 2023](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/PSAs/FOG/Thanksgiving%202023.jpg) #### Download a Public Service Announcement (PSA) from NEW Water [![Dispose of needles PSA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7337473/0d610f2b-0756-47e3-86ab-3fc84dfcd6e7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7337473/0d610f2b-0756-47e3-86ab-3fc84dfcd6e7)   [![Don't be a turkey PSA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7337473/c33eeafa-e1b0-4801-bd5f-7c2810b935e5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7337473/c33eeafa-e1b0-4801-bd5f-7c2810b935e5) [![Can "unflushables" PSA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7337473/b5660de8-78e2-4df3-8dc4-332ab3bb621e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7337473/b5660de8-78e2-4df3-8dc4-332ab3bb621e) *Also available in: [Spanish](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/PDFs/PSA/PSA%203.24.2020%20-%20SPANISH.pdf?hsLang=en-us), [Hmong](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/PDFs/PSA/PSA%203.24.2020%20-%20HMONG%20v3.pdf?hsLang=en-us), and [Somali](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/PDFs/PSA/PSA%203.24.2020%20-%20SOMALI.pdf?hsLang=en-us).* [![  Toss the floss PSA  ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7337473/6f46a4f7-cc2c-4158-b956-e05ac4f75285.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7337473/6f46a4f7-cc2c-4158-b956-e05ac4f75285) What can I put down my kitchen sink? What you put down the kitchen sink directly impacts our public health, shared waterways, and can also lead to a sewer backup in your own home. Generally speaking, it is OK to put small scraps of biodegradable food waste into a kitchen garbage disposal, provided there is no fats, oils, or grease (FOG). [Learn more about FOG.](https://www.newwater.us/fog?hsLang=en-us) FOG should not be poured down the kitchen sink, as they can cause clogged pipes, backups, and necessitate costly repairs.  [![What can I put down my kitchen sink ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7337473/a4f997d4-eadd-4bc3-a9df-6016adcfcc18.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7337473/a4f997d4-eadd-4bc3-a9df-6016adcfcc18) ## What is a Backflow Preventer? Do you have one in your home? Find out more by watching this video! Brian and Bob from NEW Water will help you locate the device in your home and teach you about maintaining the device to prevent water from backing up into your basement. Disclaimer: Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) should be worn, and only experienced persons or trained professionals should try this. If in doubt, call a professional plumber to manage the process for you. ![Let It Flow Video](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Video%20Thumbnail%20Photos/Let%20It%20Flow%20-%20Kelly.jpg) Let It Flow [Parody of "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen] ![O Love Your Pipes Video](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-06-10%20at%2012.06.11%20PM.png) Happy Holidays! Watch "O Love Your Pipes" Performed by NEW Water Staff ![Your Toilet is NOT a Trashcan Graphic](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/For%20Love%20Your%20Pipes%20Page.jpg) ## Can the Wipes! "Flushable” wipes are becoming increasingly popular – and are causing backups in homes across the U.S. These wipes should be disposed of in the trashcan, not the toilet. They can stick to FOG already in the pipe, clog up pipes, and get tangled in pumps and sewer equipment, causing sewerage backups, and costly repairs for homeowners and wastewater utilities alike. “Flushable” wipes, along with baby wipes, dental floss, mop refills, paper towels, towelettes, and cleaning wipes also should be put into the trashcan. Only toilet paper and human waste (the “3 Ps”) should be flushed. Save yourself and your wastewater utility from a pain in the drain – flush only the 3 Ps! [Will It Flush?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLTVqkXVvNk&feature=youtu.be) Check out this educational video created by the City of Spokane Department of Wastewater Management and shared in partnership with the Water Environment Federation. [ More info ](https://www.nacwa.org/advocacy-analysis/campaigns/toilets-are-not-trashcans) ![Pile of medication](https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Images/medication.jpg) ## Properly Dispose of Medication Unwanted and unused medication can present opportunities for environmental contamination, drug abuse and accidental poisonings. Pharmaceuticals should not be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink – wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to treat these materials. Collection events and drop boxes are necessary to ensure their proposal disposal. [ Pharmaceutical Drop-Off Information ](https://www.browncountywi.gov/services/medication-disposal/)