The Public Works Department receives calls from customers concerning white particles or things that look like white pieces of paper clogging plumbing fixtures. These are most probably one of two things:

1. They may be bits of calcium carbonate scale coming from your water heater. The scaling may be worsened because the water heater thennostat is too high. Most manufacturers recommend setting it at about 120°F. If the particles are calcium carbonate, you probably
need to flush your water heater. Most manufacturers recommend that you do this twice per year.

2. They may be pieces of plastic from the dip tube in your water heater. The dip tube takes the cold water from the supply at the top of the tank down to the bottom of the tank to be heated. Some dip tubes were made of inferior plastic.