Pictured: People should use sink drain baskets to catch any metal strands that may break off scrub pads like these. Broken metal strands that go down the drain may damage wastewater treatment plant equipment.

Crossposted from Wastewater Treatment Division’s Clean Water Stories 

When wastewater comes into the Carnation Wastewater Treatment Plant, it first passes through a process that removes larger particles like trash and grit from the water. Next, the water flows through a process that involves tanks containing membranes. These membranes are fine filters (like spaghetti) that only allow water molecules to flow through. When staff at the Carnation Plant began noticing damage to the membranes, they investigated. What they found were metal strands causing the damage. They made a call to our utility’s Unusual Occurrence Program. Read more.