What are sanitary sewers?
We call them sanitary sewers because they are separate from our storm sewers.
Sanitary sewers carry wastewater from your household plumbing – toilets, sinks, taps, washing machines - to the Township's sewage treatment plants. At the sewage plant we treat it with mechanical processes, chemicals, good bacteria, and UV light before it gets returned to the natural environment.
Storm sewers carry extra water from rainstorms, snow melt, and other ground runoff to local streams, rivers, and Lake Ontario.
In some municipalities, storm water goes into sanitary sewers and goes to the sewage treatment plants. In Loyalist, the two types of sewer systems are completely separate. But no matter which sewer, it all goes back to our environment. That's why what you put into the sewers is so important!
What should go into the sanitary sewer?
Sanitary sewers are meant to carry dirty water (including soaps and detergents that are safe for bathing, laundry, and dish washing), pee, poop, and toilet paper.
What should not go into the sanitary sewer?
Sewer backups can happen for many reasons, but there are ways you can reduce the risk it will happen at your home. It's very important to know what you should not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain.
Here are some things that definitely should not go into the sewer system:
Wipes |
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There are many kinds of wipes available today, including baby wipes, feminine hygiene wipes, and antibacterial wipes. They do not break down quickly and will cause blockages in the sewer system. Many of them have packaging that claims they are biodegradable, or even flushable, but they are not. For an example on what wipes do to sewers when they're flushed, have a look at this CTV news story on wipes. Wipes should go into the garbage. |
Dryer sheets |
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Much like wipes, dryer sheets are made of materials intended to withstand wet conditions and heat. While they don't break down in water, they do cause our pumps to break down when a dryer sheet gets caught in one. Dryer sheets should go in the garbage. |
Fats, oils, and grease |
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No cooking oils, grease, fats, or other similar products should be poured down the drain! While they may be liquid while being poured, they will very soon cool down and harden, and this usually happens somewhere in your house's plumbing or sewer line. While it may seem to make sense that flushing it down with hot water will help, it doesn't. It might just make it a little further down the drain before it hardens and plugs your plumbing or the municipal sewer system. Cut the top off a clean juice carton and pour grease, fat, or lard into the carton. Let the grease harden and then throw the carton in the garbage. Pour cooking or vegetable oils into a plastic screw-top bottle. Seal the lid tightly and put it in the garbage. |
Feminine hygiene products |
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Feminine hygiene products shouldn't be flushed. Even the ones that claim to be biodegradable don't break down quickly. They plug pipes and cause problems for pumps in the sewage system. Disposal should be in the garbage, even if the packaging suggests otherwise. |
Paper products |
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Toilet paper is the only paper product that's okay for flushing. Other paper products, like facial tissues (Kleenex), paper towel, newspaper, cardboard, and wipes of any kind should never be flushed. When items like these are flushed, they don't break down quickly, and can create blockages that may cause a sewage backup. Some paper products belong in your recycling grey box (like newspapers and clean cardboard), while other items belong in the garbage (soiled pizza boxes, parchment paper, and wipes of every kind). |
Hair |
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Large clumps of hair from haircuts or cutting a pet's fur usually stay clumped together and do not break apart. Large masses of hair are sometimes found in lift station pumps and stuck in sewer mains. Hair should be thrown in the garbage. |
Dental floss |
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Dental floss is tough and doesn't tear easily. When it gets into sewers, it gets caught up in pumps and can stop them from operating. Used dental floss should be disposed of in the garbage. |
Diapers |
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Diapers are large enough that they shouldn't be flushed, but they have still been found stuck in sanitary laterals, causing a sewer backup. Diapers are not flushable and need to go in the garbage. This applies to all types of diapers, biodegradable or not. They're just too big for the sewer. |
Food scraps and garbage disposals |
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Food scraps and grinds that make their way into the sanitary sewer put additional stress on the treatment process and add solids to the sanitary sewage stream that compromise the flow in the sewers. There is a better place and use for food scraps: your backyard composter. |
Pharmaceuticals |
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Sewage treatment systems aren't designed to deal with the chemicals that are in prescription drugs. You should never flush yours down the toilet. Please bring them back to the pharmacy. For more information visit the Health Products Stewardship Association website. |
Needles (sharps) |
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Sometimes needles are flushed down the toilet. This is a danger for our employees who work on the sewer system, and for the sewer equipment. The safe way to get rid of hypodermic needles is through the drop-off program organized by Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA). Visit their website to learn how and where to take sharps for safe disposal. |
Chemicals |
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The treatment process is designed specifically to treat domestic sewage and human waste. It is not designed to treat the huge variety of chemicals that are present in other day-to-day products. Please dispose of chemicals at the Household Hazardous Waste depot. |
Pet Waste |
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Our sewage plants are not designed to handle some of the unique pathogens that can be in pet feces. Pet waste, including kitty litter, should be disposed of in the garbage. |
Using the sanitary sewers
The rules for using Loyalist Township's sanitary sewers are found in By-law 2011-098, the Sewer Use By-law.
Environmental Compliance Approval for sewers
Our sanitary sewers are designed and operated under an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Under the conditions of the ECA, we compile an annual report for the collection system. The Sanitary Collection System 2024 Annual Report was received by Council in March 2025.
Sanitary sewer flushing
Each year, Loyalist Township's contractor flushes our sanitary sewers. Flushing helps pressure-wash the inside of the sewer pipes and remove debris.
Before the flushing starts in your area, our contractor will deliver a notice to your home to let you know it's going to take place. During flushing, we recommend you keep the lid down on your toilet. This helps avoid any splashing caused by water and air being forced through the mains.
You shouldn't notice any smell due to flushing. However, the force of the flushing can clear the standing water from your drain trap. Run some water into the P-trap, including floor drains, and it should take away any odour completely.
If you have questions about sanitary flushing, please give us a call at 613-386-7351 ext. 103# or email us.
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