Current Situation:

1. Use chemical drain openers which are poisonous, produce dangerous gases, can burn hands and eyes, are harmful to the environment and can damage piping, metal sinks and garbage disposals.
2. Use mechanical cleaning devices which expose the user to the waste in the pipe and can damage piping.
3. Disassemble the drain system for cleaning or replacement which causes exposure to wastes and sewer gasses. This can also be very expensive if the pipe is under a slab construction.

None are Green or Sustainable processes.

USGBC, NAHB, EPA and other organizations have compiled guidelines for the construction of sustainable buildings including both building practices and product recommendations. These comprehensive guidelines cover most aspects of home and commercial buildings providing significant benefit for our environment and the communities in which we live. However, one area has yet to be fully addressed in the current guides is the structure’s waste management system responsible for removing liquid wastes from the building. This critical system needs to be addressed in order to further protect inhabitants, protect the environment, promote longevity in the structure, and to encourage improvement in products and building practices.
In the case of multi occupant buildings such as apartments, every individual drain system potentially affects all other systems in the building. Improvement in one improves all.
The system that is under control of the structure owner and builder starts at the appliance/drain fixture and continues to the junction of the municipal sewage distribution or the septic lateral lines. The proper selection, installation and maintenance of the components are critical to the performance and safety of the overall system.
In recent years, other sustainable building practices either impact the drain system or are impacted by it.

1. The use of low water consuming fixtures reduces flow rates and can contribute to solids settling and reduced long term performance.
2. The emergence of grey water re-use further exposes people and the environment to the effects of harmful drain openers.