Don’t Put These Items Down the Drain!

Please dispose of these items in trash:

  • Disposable Wipes or Baby Wipes
  • Grease and/or Cooking Oil
  • Disposable Gloves
  • Paper Towels
  • Moist Towelettes
  • Toilet Cleaning Pads
  • Feminine Hygiene Products
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Any Medication
  • Diapers

'Flushable' Wipes and Grease Clog Our Pipes: Help Us Keep Both Out of Our System

How can 'flushable' wipes not be flushable?

And why is grease such a big deal for our wastewater system?

Because once they go down the drain, they do not break down.

Rather, they form dangerous clots that are more difficult to remove than residents might imagine.

For instance, even wipes that are advertised as 'flushable' are not. When flushed, these products actually clump together and become difficult to pass through our collection system.

They often lead to back-ups in wastewater pipes and residential laterals.

The same goes for grease. Most people assume that grease remains a liquid. However, after being flushed, the opposite happens. The grease actually forms solid clumps that can become as hard as concrete. Often, the solid grease cause significant damage to our system.

That is why Hamilton's Department of Water Pollution Control vigorously monitors signs of grease entering our system and requires commercial customers to install external grease traps.

So help us protect our system so that it continues to work for you. Keep wipes and grease out of our system!

Help 'Cut the Fat' in Our Sewer System

Fats, oils, and greases aren't just bad for your arteries and your waistline: did you know that they're bad for your sewers too? Over time, grease can build up and block your pipes completely causing a sewer backup.

What can you do to help prevent a sanitary sewer problem?

  • Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets
  • Scrape grease and food scraps into the trash
  • Garbage Disposals are not permitted in Hamilton so try using sink strainers to catch food scraps and other solids and empty into trash
  • Use a hair strainer in the shower and tub

Save Your Pipes: Don't Flush Those Wipes... or Masks... or Gloves

The only product that should be flushed is toilet paper, which is designed to disintegrate as it passes through our sewer lines. Other materials cause blockages in your home's pipes and can lead to issues for your entire neighborhood or the sewer system as a whole. Flushing wipes, masks, gloves and more can lead to costly repairs and unpleasant clean-ups for you at home.