Sludge & Septage

Everything that goes down the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms sink or that is flushed down the toilet ends up in the sewerage system. Treated waste water is either reused or safely returned to our creeks, rivers and lakes. Putting the wrong things down the sewer affects our ability to treat and reuse the water and can cause damage to the system.

We can all play apart in helping the treatment process by being aware of our own actions and by realizing the kind of sewerage we generate has a real effect on the treatment process and environment.

Drains are not trashcans and the sewer system and treatment plant can’t handle chemicals, trash, garbage or fats. Chemicals can harm the treatment plant or environment, and garbage, trash and fats can cause sewer back‐ups and overflows. In addition to the inconvenience, back‐ups and overflows are unsanitary, smelly and expensive for the Water Quality Departments and the homeowner, to correct.

Removing chemicals from waste water can be difficult due to the additional processing required. Some chemicals can be hazardous to treatment plant workers, and if chemicals pass through the plant, they can harm the environment as well.

Chemical Disposal – take typical household chemicals that can also be found in garages, sheds, basements and pool houses to an upcoming HHW event.

Trash

Fats, Oils and Grease

By thinking twice before disposing of household waste down the drain you can significantly reduce the risk of blockages in your pipes as well as ensure that the sewerage arriving at your treatment plants is fit to be processed and then re‐used or released safely into the environment.