SURPRISE – A $20 bill. A rubber ducky. And grease – lots of grease.

Money, toys and food byproducts clog wastewater systems in Surprise and other cities, costing time, wasting taxpayer dollars and frustrating workers dealing with the errors people flush down the drain, city leaders said.

“We see everything – feminine products, we see rags, flushable wipes. Just because it’s flushable does not mean it’s dissolvable,” said Andrew Johnson, a lead wastewater operator at the South Water Reclamation Facility in Surprise.

Such items also can damage city waterpipes and machinery at the treatment plant.