Homeowner

Pretreatment and the Homeowner

Homeowners can help the Township in its efforts to keep hazardous chemicals, grease, and other line-clogging material out of the wastewater treatment system. Please see the Prohibited Discharge section of Cranberry Township Ordinance No. 2006-373 for more information on what can not be flushed or poured down any drain.

Each home has a sewer line connecting the house to the sanitary sewer system. This sewer line is called a "lateral" and it is the homeowner's responsibility to keep the "lateral" in good working condition. Sewer line clogs can be caused by grease, disposable items such as paper towels or baby wipes, tree roots in the line, or other miscellaneous items. When cleaning your lateral line with a chemical, choose an environmentally-friendly option to avoid contamination to Brush Creek.

If you have questions on what may or may not be sent down the drain, contact the Pretreatment Administrator, Ph:724-776-4806 x 1513.

Think before you flush or pour

What you flush or pour down the drain may clog your pipes and may also:
  • Create dangers to workers.
  • Cause problems in the sewer system.
  • Adversely impact the treatment plant.
  • Cause harm to the environment.
  • Jeopardize public well-being.       

Do Not Flush these items - Place in the trash, or recycle appropriately

  • Baby wipes - Due to their sturdiness, a common cause of clogs
  • Disposable products - Diapers, disinfecting wipes, disposable mop/sweeper heads, feminine hygiene products
  • Paper towels– Dish rags, scouring pads
  • Flammable liquids – Gasoline, paint thinner, diesel fuel, lighter fluid, solvents
  • Paint- any color is unacceptable. Contaminates wastewater with dyes, heavy metals, and suspended solids
  • Kitchen grease – F.O.G. clogs pipes and can cause sewer back-ups.
  • Motor oil - Engine oil, transmission oil, anti-freeze
  • Pharmaceutical products - Prescription products can contaminate streams and other waterways. Safely dispose of drugs.
  • Low pH products - Battery acid, pool chemicals, muriatic acid
  • High pH products - Sodium Hydroxide (also known as Lye or Caustic soda), ammonia
  • Excessive food products – Too much food can overwhelm the treatment process at the treatment plant.

Does your home have an illegal stormwater connection to the sanitary sewer?

Cranberry Township Ordinance No. 2006-373 prohibits stormwater and groundwater from entering the sewer system. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to manage the stormwater and groundwater on their property. The Sewer collection and treatment system is designed to handle the maximum amount of hydraulic flow coming from the customers’ lateral sewer lines. When illegal stormwater or groundwater connections are tied into the sewer lines, they collectively add to the overall flow creating wastewater treatment issues, as well as backups in the collection system.  Inflow and Infiltration is mainly stormwater and groundwater that enters the sanitary sewer.