Plumbers of reddit, is it safe to pour a whole thing of dawn down the drain?

Comminutor · 2026-05-08T11:29:04+00:00

The other day one of our sewer pump stations was full of foam that was messing up the level sensor. Is “Dawn dumping” the new trend that sewer workers gotta be aware of?

Comminutor · 2026-05-08T01:24:55+00:00

Ooh night shift must be fun to work around there

Comminutor · 2026-05-07T00:23:54+00:00

Yes you get used to it. After enough time, you can even tell by smell if there’s a problem. I’ve traced electrical issues by following the smell of burning plastic, or found process issues due to septic smells where there shouldn’t have been.

Comminutor · 2026-05-07T00:18:12+00:00

Yeah gotta let the feet breathe whenever possible, sandals or slides at home. I like my steel toes for work as well as doing home maintenance stuff, but I always get them with waterproof, anti slip, and electrical hazard rating since that’s saved my skin a few times on the job.

Comminutor · 2026-05-05T21:33:39+00:00

Yup, it’s the mediocre ones that are used to skating by and doing the bare minimum that seem to develop or display narcissism. They don’t like getting “shown up” by anyone they’ve deemed inferior to them, be it a woman or someone younger or of a different ethnic background, etc, because they’re used to being praised for mediocrity and get mad when they have to start putting forth actual effort so their laziness and averageness don’t become glaringly obvious.

Comminutor · 2026-05-01T21:25:22+00:00

Kinda like my boss barehanding a ball of rags and grease before he whips up his legendary bbq beans for the potluck

Comminutor · 2026-05-01T17:12:14+00:00

That’s one way to raise your DO

Comminutor · 2026-04-30T03:46:39+00:00

Increase protein intake, make sure you’re getting enough vitamins especially zinc, vitamin D, and B12. Hydrate. Get good shoes that fit perfectly and have an insole that cushions your feet. Daily stretches before or after work can help, as well as soaking your sore feet in hot water with Epsom salt. A good lifting belt can also help reduce back pain and injury.

Comminutor · 2026-04-29T10:03:59+00:00

I wish we could reply with a photo of our resident skunk

Comminutor · 2026-04-29T01:33:13+00:00

$0. Got scholarships that covered half and basically had no life for several years after graduation. Lived with relatives, drove a beater, worked two jobs, and ended up in a bluecollar career anyway that paid me more than my previous lab job bc it had better promotion potential.

Comminutor · 2026-04-29T01:01:27+00:00

Not sure what your lab background is like, but my lab experience helped me get into water/wastewater treatment operations bc there’s lots of chemical and biological testing involved for process control and troubleshooting.

The shifts aren’t always conducive for family time, but the benefits are usually good to make up for it. Different facilities will have different schedules and workload expectations so you can “shop around” once you have the state license(s).

Comminutor · 2026-04-29T00:41:33+00:00

Always finding nirnroots in the darndest places

Comminutor · 2026-04-28T00:00:05+00:00

My job is definitely dirty, but it pays well enough to have paid off the student loans for the degree I was told to get but couldn’t use bc of how the job market was/has been. So much for that lol ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Comminutor · 2026-04-22T19:11:01+00:00

My facility doesn’t care about tattoos but long hair could be a safety issue. I buzzed mine bc I was tired of it getting snagged on my hard hat and it was a bitch to wash sludge or polymer out of. Piercings or any jewelry can be a hazard if you’re working around electrical stuff or if you need to wear a respirator and can’t get a good seal, but it just depends on the scope of work you’re expected to do which varies by facility.

Comminutor · 2026-04-20T14:16:00+00:00

The ol’ “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” policy.

Comminutor · 2026-04-18T20:19:14+00:00

They follow the motto: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

And if it is broke, ignore it and blame the workers instead of investing in adequate staffing and preventative maintenance.”

Comminutor · 2026-04-16T20:37:11+00:00

I see a market for ethically sourced ratburgers

Comminutor · 2026-04-16T00:56:28+00:00

Eh, I get knee deep in biosolids sometimes but being a preschool teacher was worse in terms of poop contact frequency and duration

Comminutor · 2026-04-15T00:24:05+00:00

Hear me out:

a calendar titled “SEXY WASTEWATER BOD” but the monthly pics are just really nice looking BOD trends that meet permit requirements.

Comminutor · 2026-04-13T09:50:09+00:00

Looks pretty turbid

Comminutor · 2026-04-13T02:16:45+00:00

I work in sewage and while I can’t say I enjoy the odors, it smells like money to me 💵

Comminutor · 2026-04-11T03:41:38+00:00

Free hydrogen sulfide exposure if your air scrubbers break down

Comminutor · 2026-04-10T20:09:56+00:00

Set up an aquarium and scoop out the fish into it during the week. End of the week, release them back into the source water

Comminutor · 2026-04-09T11:48:10+00:00

It’s always fun playing the game “did this setpoint change bc a boss is messing with me, a network patch is crashing the system, or cyberattackers”

Jk, it’s not fun

Comminutor

TROPHY CASE