Flush wisely: Simple plumbing tips to protect your home and save money
Utilities Kingston is encouraging residents to adopt proper waste disposal habits to keep their plumbing in good condition and prevent sewer backups. Making small changes in how you dispose of waste can prevent damage to your home and help maintain the community's infrastructure.
Sewer backups can occur when non-flushable items or fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) are flushed or poured down the drain. These blockages can damage your plumbing, lead to costly home repairs, increase maintenance needs, and strain the city’s sewer infrastructure, resulting in higher costs and potential public health risks.
To keep things flowing smoothly, residents should consider:
- Can I flush this? Only the three "P" s—pee, poo, and toilet paper—should be flushed down the toilet. Items like wipes (including those labeled "flushable"), paper towels, menstrual products, dental floss, hair, condoms, and food waste should be thrown in the garbage.
- Can I pour this down the sink? FOGs should be collected in a container and disposed of in the trash. Pouring FOGs down the drain can cause severe blockages. Free FOG cups are available at the Utilities Kingston office located at 85 Lappan's Lane.
By following these tips, you can protect your plumbing, avoid costly repairs, and help keep the sewer system running smoothly.
For more information on proper waste disposal and how to prevent sewer backups, visit UtilitiesKingston.com/News/Article/Know-What-to-Flush-2024.
Contact Us
City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
Fax: 613-546-7816
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
