Skip to Content
Close Alert Banner

RMWB Logo RMWB Logo

  • Contact Pulse
  • Participate
  • Business, Planning and Development
    • Business Services and Support
    • Development and Planning
    • Downtown Fort McMurray
    • Flood Mitigation
    • Maps
    • Permits and Resources
    • Procurement
    • Public Notices
    • Safety Codes Permits
    • Signage Regulations
    • Waterfront Park Revitalization
  • Bylaw and Animal Services
    • Animal Services
    • Backyard Hens
    • Bylaws
    • Community Standards
    • Parking
    • Report an Issue
    • Vehicle for Hire
  • Community Services and Social Support
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Grants and Funding
    • Responding to Homelessness
    • Seniors' Services and Programs
    • Social Support Services
    • Victim Services
    • Volunteer with Emergency Social Services
  • Employment
    • Current Opportunities
    • Firefighter and Paramedic Recruitment
    • Human Resources
  • Events and Involvement
    • Canada Day
    • Combative Sports
    • Community Events
    • Event Permits
    • MACOY
    • Participate Wood Buffalo
    • WinterPLAY
    • Wood Buffalo Volunteers
  • Financial Services
    • Accounts Payable
    • Assessments
    • Asset Management
    • Change of Address Form
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Natural Resource Extraction Support Tax Incentive Bylaw
    • Non-Profit Organization Tax Exemptions
    • Paying Property Taxes
    • Property Tax Sale
    • School Support
    • Tax Rates
    • Tax Refund Requests
  • Fire, Police and Emergency Services
    • 9-1-1
    • Alerts
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Hazards
    • Fire Codes and Permits
    • Fire Departments
    • Fire Prevention and Safety
    • FireSmart
    • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • Vulnerable Persons Registry
  • Garbage, Recycling, and Disposal
    • Garbage and Recycling Calendar
    • What Goes Where?
    • Curbside Collection Bins
    • Recycling Depots
    • Rural Waste Collection
    • Seasonal Programs
    • Soil Disposal
    • Bear-Resistant Bins Program
    • RMWB Landfill
  • Indigenous and Rural Communities
    • Anzac
    • Conklin
    • Draper
    • Fort Chipewyan
    • Fort Fitzgerald
    • Fort McKay
    • Fort McMurray
    • Gregoire Lake Estates
    • Janvier
    • Saprae Creek Estates
    • Rural Bus Schedules and Fees
  • Mayor, Council and Administration
    • Accountability and Transparency
    • Boards and Committees
    • Bylaws
    • Council
    • Elections
    • Mayor
    • Plans, Reports and Studies
    • Policies
    • Public Notices
  • Parks, Recreation and Heritage
    • Parks and Facilities Map
    • BearSmart
    • Cemeteries
    • Communities in Bloom
    • Community Cleanup
    • Community Gardens
    • Community Rinks
    • Culture, Heritage & Public Art
    • Facility Rentals
    • Flag and Lighting Requests
    • Off-Highway Vehicles
    • Parks, Trails and Green Spaces
    • Trees
    • Urban Wildlife
  • Roads and Construction
    • Capital Projects
    • Construction Map
    • Construction Projects
    • Draper Slope Stability Reports
    • Parking
    • Route Haul Permits
    • Snow Clearing and Disposal
    • Street Sweeping
    • Winter Roads
    • Contractor Training
  • Transit
    • Bike and Ride
    • Fares and Passes
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low-Income Fare Transit Program (LIFT)
    • Rural Bus Schedules and Fees
    • Safety and Etiquette
    • School Transit Service
    • Specialized Transit
    • Statutory Holidays Schedule
    • Transit News and Alerts
  • Truth and Reconciliation
    • Act
    • Calls to Action
    • Learn
  • Utilities and Water
    • Billing
    • Change of Address Form
    • Commercial Services
    • Fat, Oil and Grease
    • Open or Close a Utility Account
    • Responsible Sewer Use
    • Rural Water & Sewer Service
    • Sewer Backups
    • Utility Changes
    • Water Conservation
    • Water Delivery, Bulk Water & Septic Pickup
    • Water Metering
    • Water Outages and Maintenance
    • Sewer Cleaning and Inspections
HomeUtilities and WaterResponsible Sewer Use
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn Pinterest
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Responsible Sewer Use

Keeping our sewers free of objects and debris is vital to keeping our community clean and running efficiently.

Do not flush

The following items SHOULD NOT be flushed down a toilet:

  • Houseplant leaves and clippings
  • Silt or mud
  • Rags
  • Human or animal hair
  • Tea bags
  • Coffee grounds
  • Filters
  • Cooking grease or animal grease
  • Cigarettes, cigars, butts
  • Cat litter
  • Solvents, paint
  • Sanitary napkins and tampons
  • Tampon applicators (both cardboard and plastic)
  • Disposable diapers
  • Condoms
  • Boxes, packaging and wrappers

Why can't I flush items down the toilet?

The items listed above do not biodegrade, so they do not belong in a toilet or sewer system. They cause blockages in sewer connections, mains and pumping stations. Blockages cause backups into homes and can discharges into the environment. All of this results in thousands of dollars in maintenance and repair costs.

What if I have a septic tank?

Because the items above do not biodegrade, they will take up space in your septic tank system and could interfere with its normal operation and maintenance. They might also detrimentally affect the municipal water system when the sludge is finally disposed of.

A special note about grease

The most common problem related to sewer lines is from fat, oil and grease (FOG) being poured down drains or flushed down toilets. FOG quickly cools and attaches to pipes. As the FOG builds up, it causes blockages and backups in pipes and sewer systems.

Learn how to properly dispose of FOG in your home or your business.

Subscribe to page updates
Utilities and Water
  • Billing
  • Change of Address Form
  • Commercial Services
  • Fat, Oil and Grease
    Toggle Section Fat, Oil and Grease Menu
    • Commercial Business FOG Program
  • Open or Close a Utility Account
  • Responsible Sewer Use
  • Rural Water & Sewer Service
  • Sewer Backups
  • Utility Changes
    Toggle Section Utility Changes Menu
    • Draper
    • Fort Chipewyan
    • Fort McKay
  • Water Conservation
  • Water Delivery, Bulk Water & Septic Pickup
  • Water Metering
  • Water Outages and Maintenance
  • Sewer Cleaning and Inspections

Contact us

Services
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo footer logo

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 2K4

Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663

Subscribe to News

Stay up to date on RMWB news,
programs and operations
by subscribing to our news categories.

Subscribe

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Website Resources

  • Access to Information and Privacy
  • Logo Request Form
  • Sitemap
  • Social Media
  • Website Feedback

Copyright © .

By GHD Digital

Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.