Every time you flush the toilet, take a shower, or wash the dishes, you send wastewater down the drain to the sewer system. This network of underground pipes, through gravity and pumping stations, carries the wastewater to the treatment lagoons.
If the wrong items are going into the sewer system, there is a potential for plumbing issues, increased utility cots and an impact to the environment. Find out what items are not appropriate for flushing into the toilet, draining in a sink, or pouring into a catch basin.
Prevent a Plug
Only flush the 3 P’s – pee, poo, paper (toilet paper). Even products marketed as “flushable” can harm the sewer system. Flushing anything other than the 3 P’s can damage your home’s sewer system and result in costly repairs.
Put these items in the garbage:
- Menstrual products
- Wipes marked flushable (baby, facial, hand)
- Cleaning rags
- Diapers
- Birth control methods
- Hair
- Cotton swabs/cotton balls/ Q-tips
- Paper towels, facial tissues
- Dental floss
Tree Roots
Tree roots are always looking for moisture and they always seem to find the sewer pipes. The roots are drawn to the sewer pipe because they hold water, nutrients and oxygen. Roots grow towards these pipes and when they find a crack or leak, they’ll enter in through the crack and expand and grow new roots inside the pipe.
Sewer Line Auger
Over time, theses roots will clog up the pipe, reducing the flow of wastewater into the sewer. The growing roots can also cause too much added pressure to the pipe and cause it to break of collapse. The Town recommends having a plumber auger your sewer line annually to prevent sewer backup and pipe failure.
The Town of Leader will pay up to $250.00 for a sewer line auger if tree roots are causing a blockage within the Town section of the sewer line. Please refer to the Utilities Management Bylaw for more detailed information.
Sewer Line Camera Policy
Please review the Sewer Camera Policy for the Town before instructing a plumber to complete this work on your sewer line. Costs associated with this service will not be reimbursed if the steps laid out in this policy are not followed.
Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)
Pouring fats, oils and grease down a sink, toilet or shower can cause blockages in your home sewer system, resulting in sewer backups and costly repairs.
What are fats, oils and grease?
- Butter or Margarine
- Shortening
- Lard
- Salad dressings
- Cooking oils
- Sauces and gravies
- Meat fats
- Milk and cream
- Marinades
- Sandwich spreads
Why is FOG a Concern?
When the warm fats, oil or grease are poured down the drain, they cool, harden and stick on the inside of the sewer pipe. This material will build up over time and could block the whole pipe, causing a sewage back up in your home or your neighbourhood.
How Should I Dispose of FOG?
Before washing pots, pans or dirty dishes, wait for the grease to harden then wipe with paper towel and place in the garbage. If fats, oils and grease are in liquid form, let cool and then pour or scrape the material into a container, like a disposable cup, and place it in the garbage.
Is it Safe to Pour grease down the toilet, rather than the sink?
No, all your wastewater from the sinks, showers and toilets leave your home through the same pipe.
Can i pour hot water down the sink to wash away the grease?
No, the hot water just pushes the grease down your pipes cooling along the way accumulating and plugging further down your pipes.
My Kitchen sink is draining slowly….
If your sink is draining slowly, you already have a clogging problem. Don’t wait to fix it, as it can grow to cause damage to your pipes and even cause flooding in your basement.