If you and your family are spending more time at home this week, please remember that toilets are not garbage cans. Please don’t flush wipes, food waste, toys, and medicine down the drain.
“Over the past two weeks, we’ve responded to an increase in sewer back-ups in London caused by wipes being flushed down the toilet,” says Barry Orr, Sewer Outreach and Control Inspector at the City of London. “Wipes don’t fall apart in water the same way toilet paper does, and used wipes should be bagged and placed in the garbage.”
This includes disinfecting wipes, baby wipes, and facial wipes. When garbage is flushed, it can not only damage your home, but could also flood your neighbour’s basement too.
London has more than 1,434 kilometers of sanitary mains, and has reduced the number of sewer blockages by 75% since 2010. This significant decrease is one of the best in Canada says Orr, and he is hoping Londoners can continue this trend while social distancing at home.
Orr recommends families practice the Toilet Flush Challenge at home to help clear their sewer lines.
- The first step is to place a garbage can in all washrooms to make sure wipes don’t get mistakenly flushed.
- Next, have a family member stand at each toilet in the house.
- Do a countdown and flush your toilets once simultaneously to help keep your sewer line clean. Repeat the challenge every month.
Teachers and parents who would like class materials, resources, and educational videos about London’s sewers can learn more online or contact Orr at borr@london.ca.
Emergency repairs, ongoing required water operations, and wastewater treatment continue as the City maintains essential services. This includes operations around water quality, spills, floods, and storm response.
For further information and a list of City of London services that remain available, please continue to visit www.london.ca/covid-19
To report any issues regarding water, please visit our Service London portal.