Public Notice - Think Before you Flush, Toilets are not Trash Cans

Toilets are not Trash Cans

Think before you Flush

It is understandable in this time of response to COVID-19, that additional cleaning efforts and use of different cleaning items are taking place. The use of cleaning wipes has expanded exponentially.

Township/City sanitary sewer systems are not designed to dispose of anything beyod human waste, toilet paper and wastewater.

It is extremely important that everyday items such as hygiene products, wipes and cleaning materials and rubber gloves do not get flushed or poured down the sewer system.

Flushing any other materials down the drains can result in:

Damage or blockages to your home plumbing, which could lead to basement flooding
Damage to the Township/City’s sewer pipes located under the streets, which could lead to basement flooding
Increased operation and maintenance costs for the Township of Laurentian Valley and City of Pembroke to clean and repair the sewer pipes
Decreased life of equipment at Pollution Control Centre and increased maintenance & repairs
Harm to the environment

To help keep the entire sewage system working well, please do not flush or put the following products down the drain:

Don't flush products down your toilets

cleaning wipes/baby wipes – even those that say “flushable” can cause a problem – they don’t breakdown like toilet paper so the cause a lot blockages
hygiene products
cleaning rags – are far too thick to be flushed
facial tissue
paper towels
rubber gloves

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping protect critical infrastructure.