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FARGO -- Just as your pipes can get clogged in your home, so can the sewers underneath the city of Fargo.

The city is reminding people of what can and cannot go in city pipes so they don't have to clean out monster blockages from the sewer system.

The city of Fargo's sewer system is designed to keep waste off of the streets, but officials say there's been some unwanted waste in there that could cause some issues.

There's a certain sound you're supposed to hear when Fargo's sewer is running properly, but utility supervisor Wayne Offerdahl says it can only take a few misplaced items to derail operations.

"It'll all end up here, in a wet pit in town somewhere, and it just keeps building and building if we don't catch it right away, sometimes it takes days, weeks," Offerdahl said.

The city recently posted this picture online to show what can cause pipes to clog.

"Baby wipes, they should never be flushed down the toilet; they're non-flushable. They don't disperse, they don't break down like toilet paper does. The flushable wipes, when they get into the sewer system and make their way to our lift stations, they kind of create a little havoc," Offerdahl said.

Depending on what's clogging the system, it can end up costing the city thousands of dollars in repairs.

Though larger clogs are rare, it also impacts how the water reclamation center can treat the waste.

Offerdahl's rule of thumb is if it's not toilet paper, it doesn't belong in the toilet.

"Get them in a garbage bag, get them out on the berm, and they'll bring them to landfill; much better place for them rather than a collection system," he said.

If you have any further questions, contact the Fargo Streets and Sewer Department at (701) 241-1453.