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(CBS4) MIAMI As football fans from around the world focus in on the big game taking place this Sunday, South Florida residents not attending the Super Bowl are being warned about the dreaded Halftime Flush which is coming to a bowl near you.
90 million toilets will be flushed during the halftime. And as the nachos, bean dip and beverages abound, the day has historically become one of the busiest days for plumbers.
In fact, every year, one-in-five Americans battles a clogged toilet, often times during halftime. That’s why Miami-Dade’s sewer department is asking residents to make sure their “super” bowls are ready to handle the Halftime Flush. When 90 million people flush about 350 million gallons of water down the pipes at the same time nationwide, that’s enough water to fall over Niagara Falls for more than half an hour.
That much bathroom action can cause clogs, worsen already leaky toilets and lower water pressure.
Miami-Dade is prepared to handle the extra flushing, and officials say South Florida faces no additional peril because it is hosting the Super Bowl. The worst that could happen, they say, is a temporary loss of water pressure. To be on the safe side, people could stagger their flushing.
Some tips for keeping things flowing smoothly on Super Bowl Sunday:
*Use single-ply toilet paper.
*Keep a trash bin in the bathroom and tell guests not to flush paper towels or napkins.
*Remove small items near the bowl that could fall in and cause a clog.
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