Don’t flush it! Here’s what the City of Toronto wishes homeowners knew 

Toronto has a serious problem, and it’s not a pretty picture. Yes, we’re talking about the careless use of toilets and sinks as garbage disposals!

You’ve heard it before, ‘Don’t flush that!’

But you might not realize how big of an impact a willy-nilly wash down the drain can make. Everyday items that you put down the drain can seriously mess with the city’s sewer system. Kitchen prep like food scraps, fat, oil, and grease should never, ever be washed down the drain — and we’re not joking!

To pour or to not pour down the drain?

Though it seems harmless, grease and oil will cool and harden when poured down the drain, clogging and backing up pipes — major yikes! Keep your drains happy by discarding oils and scraps in your green bin. Excessive oil can easily be disposed of at City of Toronto Drop-Off Depot locations as well.

Remember, the only things that go down the sink are soap and water. That’s it!!

Toilet flushing fails

When it comes to the bathroom, a careless flushing habit is also a recipe for disaster. Only toilet paper and human waste can be flushed away — everything else is a no-no for your porcelain throne.

Dental floss, condoms, hair, cotton swabs, and wipes (of any kind) should always go into the garbage bin while paper towels, diapers, menstrual products, and tissues can be tossed in the green bin. Always bring back unused medication to the pharmacy, where it will be disposed of safely.

A disastrous effect

OK but what’s the big deal, you ask? A little bit of harmless flushing never hurt anyone? Wrong!

Since improperly flushed items don’t break down, they can block up our drains and prevent wastewater from flowing freely, and that’s a really big deal when a big storm hits.

In parts of the city that use combined sewer systems (where wastewater and stormwater flow in one sewer), everything that’s flushed and washed away can overflow into local waterways. 

People, that means, untreated matter — including human waste and items that shouldn’t be flushed– can all end up in Toronto’s streams, rivers, and lakes instead of being treated at a wastewater plant!

Let’s do our part

Household plumbing problems, like basement flooding, can also be caused by blocked drains. And, damage to the city’s pipes beneath the streets can result in a basement filled with that untreated wastewater we just talked about. Not to mention expensive damage to wastewater treatment plants as well!

While the City currently has a $3 billion stormwater project in progress that’ll store large volumes of stormwater, it takes a collective effort to help ensure overflows and clogs do not happen.

We need only to make a small change in our routine to do our part and keep the city’s sewer system, your pipes, and drains clear and flowing freely. Head over to the City of Toronto’s website to learn more about proper disposal and remember, if you’re questioning whether something should be flushed or washed down, it’s probably a no!

NOT DOWN THE DRAIN TORONTO