Skip to content

City reminds public after problems with sewer mains

The cause of the problem relates directly to the products and materials discharged from property owners to the sewer mains.
toilet-getty
The City of Estevan is asking the public to avoid flushing certain materials down the toilet.

The City of Estevan has issued a reminder to the public about what can be flushed into the public sewer mains.

In a news release, the city said it has been experiencing operational challenges with various sewage pumping stations and public sewer mains. The cause of the problem relates directly to the products and materials discharged from property owners to the sewer mains.

“Baby wipes, feminine, cleaning and disinfectant wipes, toilet bowl scrubbers and paper towels might be labelled as disposable or flushable, but these items must not go down the drain toilet,” the city said in a news release.

These products do not break down in the sewer system and can cause plugs in sewer pipes and sewage pumping stations, resulting in sewer backups and equipment damage.

In addition to these products, the city asks people to avoid disposing of grease and cooking oils through public sewer mains. When fats, oils, and grease are poured or flushed down your sinks, drains or toilets, they enter the sewer system where they cool, harden and stick to the inner walls of sewer pipes.

This can lead to blockages that are difficult and costly to fix.

The city says pee, poo and toilet paper should only be flushed.