Every Drop Counts: How Wastewater Treatment is impacted by Drought

Every Drop Counts: How Wastewater Treatment is impacted by Drought

A Drier Winter Means Every Flush Counts
The holidays are a time for family, celebration, and plenty of home cooking. From gravy to green bean casserole, those festive meals can leave your kitchen (and your drains) working overtime. But this year, there’s another reason to be extra mindful about what goes down your sink or toilet — Central Illinois’ ongoing drought conditions. That means less water to help move waste through our sewer system — and a greater chance for problems when the wrong things get flushed or poured down the drain.

Why Drought Changes the Equation
Normally, our wastewater system relies on steady water flow to carry waste efficiently through the network of underground pipes. But when drought conditions persist, reduced water levels mean less dilution and slower movement. As a result, materials that shouldn’t be in the system — such as wipes, paper towels, hygiene products, and cooking grease — are more likely to stick, clump together, and cause blockages.
When these materials mix with fats, oils, and grease from holiday cooking, they form fatbergs — massive, hardened clogs that can block entire sewer lines and lead to costly backups and overflows. With less water to flush the system, these risks grow even faster.

A Simple Recipe for Prevention
As you prepare those delicious holiday meals, remember: a little care in the kitchen can go a long way toward protecting your home and community.
Here’s how to keep things flowing smoothly this season:

• Cool it, then toss it. Let cooking grease solidify in a can or jar, then throw it away instead of rinsing it down the drain.
• Scrape, don’t rinse. Wipe or scrape plates and pans into the trash before washing.
• Only flush toilet paper. Wipes, paper towels, and other items belong in the trash — even if they say “flushable.”
• Use a sink strainer. It’s an easy way to catch food particles before they cause trouble.

With less water moving through the system, every small decision makes a difference. The Sanitary District of Decatur works hard year-round to keep wastewater systems running efficiently, but community cooperation is key — especially during drought conditions.

You can do your part too by keeping fats, oils, grease, and non-flushables out of the system. You’ll help protect your pipes, prevent sewer backups, and safeguard our shared infrastructure during a time when every drop counts.