Don't flush anything besides the 3Ps - pee, poop and toilet paper

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The city is reminding people to avoid flushing anything besides toilet paper down their toilets.


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A facecloth that had been flushed down the toilet caused some problems at a city lift station pump last week.

City spokesman Gord Young said the facecloth jammed the pump, which had to be pulled so the facecloth could be removed.

“We have not encountered a lot of problems related to non-flushable materials causing blockages, but we did have a problem caused by a facecloth last week at a lift station pump,” Young said Monday morning.

“Cloth, sanitary wipes and paper towels will not break down the same way as toilet paper. Flushing these products down the toilet can cause blockages in sanitary laterals, sanitary mains and pumps.”

Other communities like Owen Sound also are warning their residents that wipes can clog pipes.

As a result of people hoarding toilet paper, panic buying and extreme shortages, municipalities are seeing an increase in the number of pipes being clogged with these products.

The public is being advised to throw those products into the garbage or recycling bins.

The CWWA, which represents Canada’s municipal water and wastewater professionals, said for years it’s been sharing the message to not flush anything but the 3Ps – pee, poop and paper (toilet paper). However, it has never been more important than now.

“At a time when we are being quarantined or self-isolated at home due to COVID-19, nobody wants a situation that would force you out of your home where you are safest,” executive director Robert Haller said in a statement.

Canada’s municipal sewer systems are built to handle human waste and toilet paper that is specifically designed to deteriorate quickly, the association says.

Anything else put down the toilet or sink causes problems that lead to clogs, blockages and wastewater equipment damage. Any of those situations can shut down sewer systems.

With files from Postmedia

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