Possible sewage problem

[duajones]

My lone cherokee purple is planted a few feet from a cleanout for the house. Citys main line is clogged and the last time this happened a couple years ago, they had me take the caps off of both that cleanout and the one closest to the main as to not get sewer water in the house. They use water pressure to clean out the line. If it floods that area, I will lose the plant as I wont consider it safe to eat anymore. I am totally lost as to what to do. They will show up sometime this afternoon. Any ideas?

[Worth1]

I wouldn’t worry about a little sewer water on or around your plants if your plant just feeds from the stuff it wont hurt it and if it gets on the tomatoes just wash them off with some water with a little Clorox in it as you would your dishes if someone in the house is infected with HIV.
The sun light alone will kill most of the stuff your worried about in time and others not.
But there is really no need to worry just use the proper precautions.

The plant its self will love the stuff and folks around the world for years have used human waste to feed plants such as rice, have you read a book called The Good Earth you should.
PS I don’t use this to feed my tomatoes.
Worth

[bcday]

Also, cooking kills E. coli. You could still use your CP for sauce unless the whole idea totally grosses you out.

Can you take cuttings to plant somewhere else for a fall crop?

Actually I wouldn't care to eat anything grown there either, even cooked.

[duajones]

Ok, maybe it wont hurt my plant but I just have a problem with human waste as it wont just be from this house, when they flush it with high pressure, it will be sewage from who knows what. I have an idea that should work theoretically. I have a drain king that you put on the end of a hose and run down the sewer line. when you turn on the water it swell up to lodge itself in the pipe and use water pressure to help clear a clog. I am thinking if I set it up and turn it on right before they start , I can keep my clean out from spilling over. Let it all spill over on the main clean out which is far away from my plant. That is the plan anyway, just dont know if it will work.

[bbjm]

A drain king? I don't want to get away from the topic here, but where'd you get that? Will it work in a 3 inch pipe for my down spout? I have a clog I can't reach with anything?

[harleysilo]

Originally Posted by bbjm

A drain king? I don't want to get away from the topic here, but where'd you get that? Will it work in a 3 inch pipe for my down spout? I have a clog I can't reach with anything?

I don't think it's what you are looking for, it's used to block the drain pipe, assuming I read the post right.

[duajones]

Originally Posted by bbjm

A drain king? I don't want to get away from the topic here, but where'd you get that? Will it work in a 3 inch pipe for my down spout? I have a clog I can't reach with anything?

they have them in different sizes and it looks like the one I have would work in a 3 inch drain. It blocks the drain and hits the clog with a stream of water at the same time

http://www.acehardware.com/sm-drain-...i-1278183.html

[TomatoDon]

From what you said, I doubt you could ever be happy eating a tomato from that plant.

It's still early. Maybe move it? I'd avoid that area from now on. It's obvious you aren't happy with the situation, and are trying to make the best of it, but I doubt you will ever enjoy anything from a plant grown there. Get rid of it or move it. In the grand scheme it's not that big of a deal.

Just my .02.

Don

[duajones]

I have eaten tomatoes from the plant already and moving it isnt an option at this point. If I can keep this clean out from overflowing, I wont be concerned at all from continuing to eat from the plant.

[TomatoDon]

Then that's the key. Wish you could "dam" it up some sort of way to keep all the water from around it in case they have to blow out the line.

Don

[cdg]

It seems to me the drain king would work. I have used one and it seems to lock in solid enough to seal the drain from a backflush.I would give it a try.
CDGTXS

[johno]

What if you put a barrel over it, just in case? Then if there's a splash or spill it will not get on the plant, at least...

[Ruby]

Sounds like it needs a moat! And a fortress!

[duajones]

the drain king worked perfect. I turned on the water right before they started and didnt have any spillover whatsoever. I am so happy it didnt compromise my favorite tomato in the garden

[TomatoDon]

Most Excellent. A little ingenuity saved the day...and the prized tomato plant!

Good going!

D