Sorority housing is a shared environment and the way members and staff use the property directly impacts the safety, functionality, and long-term resiliency of the chapter house.

One of the most common and most preventable sources of property damages in chapter house facilities is improper use of plumbing systems. What goes down the drain does not magically disappear! Over time, certain materials accumulate within pipes, increasing the likelihood of blockages, backups, and costly repair.

We have partnered with Fluid Waste Services to compile a list of the most frequent offenders of sewage blockage and backups and the best practices to combat pipe and resulting property damage. This guidance is intended to support responsible use of plumbing systems and to outline best daily practices, as well as proactive maintenance strategies to protect your chapter house.

Toilets: What to Flush

Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. That’s it! Pretty simple, right? Wrong. Chapter members often flush feminine hygiene products, wipes (including those labeled “flushable”), hair, floss, cotton swabs, and more. Posting clear and visible signage in your bathroom facilities outlining what’s “flushable” can help combat this problem. Our team has created a flyer included in this article for your use.

It’s also prudent to keep in mind that vomit is highly acidic and can, over time, contribute to pipe deterioration. When possible, it’s always best to use a trash can when fighting a stomach bug.

Showers & Sinks: Protecting Your Drain

Hair, along with wipes, are the most common causes of bathroom clogs. To reduce the risk of clogs:

Be sure that your cleaning vendor or other responsible staff member is well versed in this risk management technique. Drains should be inspected and cleaned regularly and women living in the chapter house reminded to refrain from putting any of the materials listed above down any drain.

If a pipe or drain becomes clogged and begins to backup, leak detection technology can be helpful in identifying water before it becomes a larger problem. Click here to learn more about these systems and their advantages.

Kitchen Sinks: Grease and Food Waste

Bathrooms aren’t the only common place where pipes get backed up. Kitchen drains are also particularly vulnerable to buildup and blockage.

Grease, including oil, butter, fats, and sauces, is one of the leading causes of sewer issues in shared housing. When poured down the drain, grease cools and solidifies within pipes, restricting flow and increasing the likelihood of backups.

The following should never go down the kitchen drain:

This applies even when a garbage disposal is present.

Best practice is always to allow grease to cool, transfer it to a container, and dispose of it in the trash. Chefs, kitchen staff, and members should scrape all plates and cookware into the trash before washing. Kitchen staff handling grease should be sure that it’s handled with care and completely cooled before throwing in the trash as it can become a fire hazard.

Proper food disposal can also be encouraged by strategically placed signage in dining and kitchen areas. This is especially important for open kitchens, where women are presumably using the kitchen without supervision.

Proactive Maintenance

In addition to the daily best practices outlined above, proactive maintenance of your entire plumbing system is essential. High frequency of use places significant strain on pipes, making routine inspection and cleaning a key component of preventing plumbing failure.

At a minimum, the following maintenance standards should be observed:

These best practices allow for issues to be uncovered before they become larger problems and extend the life of your plumbing infrastructure.

Why This Matters

These may seem like small suggestions, but they make a big difference in the health and maintenance of your pipes. While damage can sometimes be immediately apparent, often less obvious ware and tear of pipes is accelerated and the consequences heightened by everyday practices by those that use the plumbing.

Improper drain use is not a minor inconvenience and the consequences of improper use and maintenance can interrupt member experience, cause secondary perils like mold or other biohazards, and lead to even larger problems down the road. From a financial standpoint, these events can be significant. Clearing a single blockage may cost several thousand dollars, while pipe repairs or replacement can escalate to five to ten times that amount.

If you have any concern about the health of your pipes or want to better understand the types of materials and other conditions of your plumbing systems, it’s recommended to contact a plumbing company who can scope your plumbing infrastructure and offer as assessment of its health.

Conclusion

Maintaining the health of your plumbing infrastructure ultimately comes down to consistency in daily practices and preventative maintenance. Post clear signage (we created some signage for your use), ensure that annual maintenance visits are planned and executed, and educate your members, staff, and vendors on signs of blockage or other pipe damage.

When these principles are embedded into operations and culture, your property is better positioned to operate smoothly with fewer unexpected disruptions over time.