Preventing Backups and Overflows
Sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. A common cause of sewer overflows is pipes blocked by items flushed down the toilet.
What Should be Flushed
Flush only toilet paper and human waste! Be aware that just because something is labeled as “flushable” doesn't mean it’s true. Items other than toilet paper and human waste should be placed in the garbage.
What Not to Flush
Here’s what you shouldn't flush:
- Bags / wrappings and cardboard
- Band-aids and bandage wrappers
- Wipes - including those intended for cleaning, facial, baby & personal care
- Condoms
- Cotton balls, swabs and pads
- Dental floss and teeth whitening strips
- Disposable diapers, nursing pads, and baby wipes
- Flammable or explosive substances
- Hair
- Kitty litter
- Expired and unused prescription or over-the-counter medications
- Mini and maxi-pads, tampons and applicators
- Motor oil, transmission fluids, anti-freeze or other toxic chemicals
- Needles and sharps
- Paper towels
- Rags
- Solvents, paints, turpentine, nail polish, polish remover
Helping to prevent clogged drains and backups is easy!
Why not wet wipes?
Just because the package says "flushable" doesn't mean it's true. Many items marketed as disposable and/or flushable do not degrade like toilet paper, and they could wind up clogging pipes, tangling pumps and causing messy sewer backups into waterways, streets, businesses and homes.
Our sewers are designed to dispose of very specific things. Using your toilet for disposal of many modern products can result in blockages. The drains that connect your home to the main sewer are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper and human waste. Sewer pipes are often no wider than 4 inches.