The city of Dubuque is asking residents to think about what items they're flushing down toilets and putting into the sewer system, as inorganic items can cause clogs.

Water and Resource Recovery Center Manager Willie O'Brien said at least several times a year his staff needs to remove items that shouldn't have ever gotten into the sewer.

"We see a lot of rags, we see some flushable wipes, we see plastics," he said.

Those items usually create blockages in the lift stations, according to O'Brien.