Utilities Kingston reminds residents to limit what they flush to avoid clogging sewer pumping stations

“Looks like a chunk of fibreglass, it’s very hard…I don’t know where that came from but it got into the sewers.”
This is how Utilities Kingston worker Wayne MacKenzie spends his day.
Unclogging the municipal sewer pipes — by hand.
Removing everything from diapers to feminine hygiene products.

He says even clothing makes it into the sewage stream.
“T-shirts and the underwear — anything with an elastic band, once you start getting those into pumps they get tangled in the impellers and they shut down the pumps.”
This takes time and money to keep the sewage flowing to the treatment plants.
Pumping stations need to be raked clean several times a week and there are nearly 20 stations located throughout the city.
It’s a dirty and dangerous job — but someone has to do it by hand, rake and pliers.
Mackenzie says the job isn’t without its risks.
“A sharp (needle) lodged into a rag can easily cut and then you’re worried about hepatitis, tetanus, any other disease.”
There’s a short simple list of what should be going down a toilet.
The director of wastewater operations, Kevin Riley, says they call it the “3-P rule.”
“I’m going to put it as just natural waste, human waste should go down the toilet. If it’s not it shouldn’t go down.
Like paper, pee and poop.”

Additionally:

• Only water should go down your sink kitchen.
• Food should be rinsed with a strainer.
• Fats, oils and cooking grease should be disposed of properly.

Utilities president Jim Keech says those items can congeal in the pipes long before they reach a pumping station.
“You get too much stuff in the lateral, it backs up, you end up with raw sewage in your basement that’s going to be an issue and you know if you talk to people that have had that happen the cost to you is huge.”

City officials say even products that are labelled as safe to flush generally aren’t and shouldn’t be put into the sewage stream.
A full list of what can go down the drain or be flushed is available on the Utilities Kingston website. It also has instructions on how to properly dispose of a long list of items that aren’t appropriate in the sewer system.