Wastewater Disposal Safety!

tips and tricks on how to safely manage waste down the drain!

Ever wondered what happens to the stuff you flush down the toilet and wash down your sink? Truth is, some of this waste is not meant to enter wastewater and sewer systems. In site, I'll provide you with information on how to keep aquatic life, water sources, and the overall wastewater system safe!

Risks and Issues

pharmaceuticals in wastewater:

Though some medicine in small amounts seem okay to rinse down the sink or flush down the toilet, these drugs can reach aquatic life at the end of the sewer line, even after being cleaned in water plants. Furthermore, these drugs can enter our drinking water and ground water resources, rendering these sources of water unsafe for consumption. They can also seep into the soil, and stay preserved there for many years.Studies have found that these drugs have the same effects on aquatic life (i.e. birth control pills inhibiting estrogen and reproduction in fish) and even producing far worse effects, such as death, stress, and biological and behavioral changes, disrupting the aquatic communities and food chains.

wastes clogging wastewater systems:

Though most waste water passes through water treatment plants, some waste ends up getting stuck in pipes and sewer lines. This can be a result of an accumulation of fats, oil, grease, wipes, and human waste that builds up into a rock hard mass called fatbergs. These can greatly clog sewer lines and wastewater systems, with workers having to go in person into the sewers to break these masses (it's super gross!). In sewers that cannot be walked into, it may cost thousands of dollars to remove alone. These fatbergs can especially make sewer overflows more frequent, with even more wastes entering rivers and other water resources.

What You Can Do:

think before you flush!

- avoid flushing/washing down: cooking oil, grease, fat, food scraps, paints, bleach + strong chemicals, wet wipes, hygiene products, contact lenses, hair, dental floss, medicine, pharmaceuticals, period products
- install grease traps to prevent fats, oils, and grease from entering the drainage system!
- only flush the 3 p's: pee, poo, paper.

safe disposal + alternatives!

- avoid buying medicine in bulk! though it may be cheaper, it brings the risk of expired medicine, which will need to be disposed of accordingly.
- some safer alternatives to simply flushing medicine down the drain or throwing it in the trash is either to 1. bring your medicine to a secure collection or drop off event to be safely disposed of, or 2. mix and crush the medicine with an unpalatable substance, such as coffee grounds or sawdust, put some water in it, then throw it in the trash bin! Make sure to scratch out and remove all identifying information on medicine containers before throwing them away.

Here are some infographics and images for more information!
(click for close-ups)