WWTP Process and Sewer Collection System

What Not to Flush Down your Drains and Protecting your Environment

The items listed below are at times flushed down the drain or toilet without knowing the impact on the environment. These items can plug toilets, floor drains or main sewer lines leaving your home.

Even if there has never been a problem close to your home, these items will eventually show up at pump stations which convey the wastewater to the treatment plant. The accumulation of these items can cause pump blockages and interfere with pump control blockages.

The wastewater treatment plan can remove most of the items flushed down the drain. However, items that can’t make it through the removal system can cause excessive wear and increased maintenance to the treatment plant maintenance.

Flushing items down the toilet does not save our landfills, it adds to the removal process at the wastewater treatment plant and increases the risk to the environment.

Items that should be disposed of in the trash or that have special treatment:

• Cotton balls, condoms, tampons and other hygiene products.
• Sanitary towels, any of the many varieties of cleaning towels, dryer sheets, diapers and the wipes, adult diapers, small towels or rags, plastics of any kind (toothbrushes etc…), dental floss.
• Razors and blades should be disposed of in rigid containers.
• Medicines not needed or expired should be returned to local pharmacies for correct disposal or call local authorities or health departments for proper disposal methods.
• Needles and syringes if flushed down the toilet or household drains can be a potential danger to sewer and wastewater personnel or if disposed of in regular trash a refuse employee could also be harmed. Contact local authorities or health department for the facilities who will receive needle and syringes.
• Any types of oils and grease should be properly disposed.

There are probably items which were not mentioned. A rule of thumb may be, even though the products labels say safe for disposal, does not mean it should go down you drain. Please take the additional steps to dispose of in the trash, or if you are unsure please call to find out the proper disposal methods, possible recycling opportunities and their locations in your area or call the Libertyville Wastewater Treatment Plant at 847-918-2097.