Don’t flush that!

Did you know you have sewer equipment you’re responsible for taking care of? And it’s not just plumbing. Every house or building has a sewer pipe that connects it to the larger sewer system. Often called a “side sewer”, your house sewer pipe can be made out of clay, iron, plastic, concrete or brick depending on the age of the home or building. Maintenance is the property owner’s responsibility.

The things that cause problems for the sewer system can also cause problems in a home’s side sewer or plumbing.

Wipes, facial tissue, hygiene products and other “unflushables” don’t break down like toilet paper and can create a sewer backup in your home or damage sewer equipment at wastewater treatment plants.

This includes so-called “flushable” wipes – one of the biggest culprits of problem clogs in homes and sewer systems. There are no standards for “flushablility”, so even if a wipe is labeled “flushable”, odds are it will not break down like toilet paper.

nothing but toilet paper should be flushed

Don’t believe us? Just do an internet search for “wipes clog pipes” to see all the news stories and images of sewer utility clogs across the world.

Not only can clogs cause expensive plumbing bills for homeowners, in 2019, our utility spent over $120,000 just to take wipes, tampons / applicators, and other trash that came into our treatment plants to a landfill. That’s enough trash to fill two semi-trucks every week! Plus, there’s the increased cost for system operation and maintenance.

Knowing what to flush is easy! Just remember the “4 Ps”: Poo, Pee, Puke and (toilet) Paper! Nothing else!

All this information is available in English, Russian (Русский), Chinese (中国), Spanish (Español), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), and Somali (af Soomaali) at: www.kingcounty.gov/flush

Wipes, even when labeled “flushable”, can clog sewer equipment – and the pipes in your home.
Our utility spends over $100,000 a year to take the wipes, tampons, and other trash that came into our treatment plants to a landfill.
This is a fraction of the wipes, paper towels, and other non-TP products we take out at our treatment plants on a normal day. Much of this doesn’t make it to us because it clogs people’s house sewer line first.
Put used gloves, masks, and wipes in the trash! Not only are they a health and wildlife hazard if you throw them on the ground – but they can get into the sewer system from stormwater gutters and potentially damage equipment.
Nothing but toilet paper! All other items should go in the trash including tissue, wipes, paper towels, hygiene products, ear swabs, dental floss, etc.
Screening equipment at our sewer treatment plants try to catch the trash before it clogs our other equipment.
This is a fraction of the wipes, paper towels, and other non-TP products we take out at our treatment plants on a normal day. Much of this doesn’t make it to us because it clogs people’s house sewer line first.